Gold retreats on profit-taking after hitting two-month peak following inflation data

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters
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Aug 13 (Reuters) - Gold fell more than 1% on Thursday as investors locked in ‌gains after prices climbed to two-month highs following U.S. inflation data that was in line with expectations, tempering expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike next month.

Spot gold fell 1.2% to $4,354.58 per ounce ​by 12:58 a.m EDT (1658 GMT). Prices touched their highest level since June 5 earlier ​in the session at $4,449.39.

U.S. gold futures dipped 1.1% to settle at $4,420.40.

"4,500 is a ⁠big resistance point for gold. We touched it twice and gold tumbled from that ​point, with traders being jittery close to the 4,500-level at the moment," said Bob ​Haberkorn, senior market strategist at StoneX.

The U.S. Producer Price Index was unchanged in July as a decline in goods prices offset a rise in services costs, indicating that inflationary pressures may persist.

The data followed ​Wednesday's consumer price report, which showed U.S. inflation rose 3.4% in the 12 months through ​July, down from 3.5% in June and in line with economists' expectations.

Markets are now pricing a 35% chance ‌of ⁠a rate hike at the September meeting, down from 40% immediately after the PPI data, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. FEDWATCH

Fed policymakers are unlikely to feel the urgency to raise rates next month after inflation cooled for a second consecutive month.

On Wednesday, however, Cleveland ​Fed President Beth Hammack reiterated the ​need to raise ⁠rates "right now".

Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

"(Gold) had a pretty solid 9% bump in a week behind ​Chinese and retail buying; seeing some profit-taking around 100 day ​moving average," ⁠independent analyst Tai Wong said.

Meanwhile, oil prices declined on Thursday as investors assessed prospects for weaker global demand this year amid supply disruptions.
Separately, Bank of Korea held a $250 million stake in U.S.-listed gold ⁠ETF as ​of end of June, an SEC filing showed.

Among ​other metals, spot silver slid 1.2% to $64.51 per ounce, platinum dropped 2.4% to $1,715.54, and palladium slipped 3.9% to $1,316.28.

Reporting ​by Sukanya Mitra and Anjana Anil in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Diti Pujara

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