Gold hits 3-mth low, copper slips as Powell flags more rate hikes

Investing.com -- Gold prices traded at three-month lows on Thursday, coming under pressure from renewed strength in the dollar and Treasury yields after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said more interest rate hikes were likely.

Fears of more rate hikes also dented copper prices, while traders sold the red metal heavily on concerns over slowing global economic growth.

Speaking at a European Central Bank forum, Powell said that while the central bank has “come a long way,” there still stood the possibility that interest rates will rise further.

His comments pushed up the dollar and Treasury yields, while weighing on the outlook for non-yielding assets such as gold and other metals. Markets also began pricing in a greater possibility for a rate hike at the Fed’s next meeting in late-July.

Spot gold steadied at $1,908.85 an ounce, while gold futures fell 0.3% to $1,916.75 an ounce by 20:04 ET (00:04 GMT).

Gold under pressure as markets look at 25 bps hike in July

Powell’s comments, which also came after a somewhat hawkish testimony before Congress last week, saw markets begin pricing in a nearly 80% chance that the Fed will raise rates by 25 basis points in July.

While the Fed kept rates steady during a June meeting, it flagged a more data-driven approach to future interest rate decisions. With U.S. inflation still remaining well above the central bank’s target range, markets braced for more hikes.

Rising U.S. interest rates bode poorly for gold and other metals, given that they push up the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets. This notion had battered gold through 2022, and has kept the yellow metal trading negative so far this year.

Focus this week is also on key personal consumption expenditures price index data- the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, which is due on Friday. The reading is expected to show that inflation remained sticky in May.

Other precious metals weakened on Thursday. Platinum futures fell 0.1% to a four-month low, while silver futures fell 0.6% and hovered near a one-month low.

Copper hit by weak economic outlook, China uncertainty

Copper prices steadied around a near one-month low on Thursday, after plummeting over the past five sessions. Futures were flat at $3.7292 a pound, after sinking nearly 5% over the past week.

Concerns over slowing industrial activity across the globe dented copper’s appeal, as traders feared a corresponding slowdown in demand for the red metal.

Uncertainty over China, the world’s largest copper importer, also grew ahead of key purchasing managers’ index data due on Friday, which is set to offer more cues on a slowing economic rebound in the country.