Spot gold prices are hovering near $4,332.20 an ounce as investors weigh a cooling oil market and heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz against the reality of a stronger dollar. While geopolitical friction provides a floor for bullion, the metal struggles to break free from the gravity of persistent rate-hike expectations.
Gold prices are currently languishing below their 200-day moving average, a slump fueled by a resilient labor market and mounting bets on Federal Reserve rate hikes. Yet, Nitesh Shah of WisdomTree argues that this market pessimism ignores a deeper, more structural trend: the persistent threat of runaway inflation.
Spot gold hovered near $4,327 an ounce on Monday as a cooling in the Israel-Iran conflict offset the market’s appetite for safety. While geopolitical friction previously buoyed bullion, investors are now recalibrating their positions against the backdrop of a resilient U.S. labor market and impending inflation data.
Gold prices face significant downside pressure after slipping below the 200-day moving average, with analysts warning of a potential slide toward the $4,000 mark. The metal's trajectory remains tethered to upcoming inflation reports and the shifting outlook for U.S. interest rates.
For the 19th consecutive month, the People’s Bank of China has bolstered its gold reserves, adding 9.95 tonnes in May to reach a total of 2,331.52 tonnes. This strategic accumulation persists despite a sharp cooling in local physical demand and a notable decline in domestic gold-linked equities.
