Gold, Silver Prices Fall as Oil Rises Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Spot gold and silver prices retreated on Thursday as rising oil prices, firmer Treasury yields, and a stronger US dollar prompted investors to take profits after a brief breakout rally. The precious metals had seen significant gains on Wednesday.
The spot price of gold was near $4,243.40 an ounce, down 0.07% from the session's high, while spot silver traded near $61.52, down 0.64%. Rising oil prices and higher yields weighed against gold's safe-haven appeal, as Brent crude rose 3.8% to $82.49 a barrel.
The latest US data reinforced the market's post-Fed positioning, with resilience rather than recession dominating traders' views. Initial jobless claims rose by 1,000 to 199,000 in the week ended August 1, while continuing claims increased to 1.8 million.
Market-implied odds of a September rate hike were near 56.9% on Thursday afternoon, up from 54.4% the previous day but below last week's 63.4%. The 10-year Treasury yield moved back toward the 4.6% to 4.7% area.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central geopolitical risk input for metals, oil, and rates, with Iran and Oman reportedly close to finalizing an arrangement on shipping routes. However, the US position remains a constraint if any deal appears to give Tehran formal control over commercial navigation.