The Labor Department reported the figure for the week ending September 19, coming in slightly below the consensus forecast of 201,000. Following a minor upward revision to the previous week’s data, the labor sector continues to show surprising durability. This stability provides the Federal Reserve with significant policy space to maintain or increase interest rates to combat inflation.
Gold Stalls as Low Jobless Claims Fuel Rate Hike Expectations
The gold market faces persistent downward pressure as U.S. jobless claims dropped to 197,000 last week, underscoring a resilient labor market. This unexpected strength reinforces the Federal Reserve's tightening bias, pushing Treasury yields to two-decade highs and making the precious metal a less attractive prospect for investors.
Spot gold currently trades at $4,264.40 an ounce, reflecting a 0.50% decline. The metal remains anchored below the $4,300 threshold as the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield climbs to 5.11%. With bond yields hitting their highest level in 20 years, the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold continues to rise, keeping prices under sustained pressure in the current economic climate.
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