Gold futures climbed on Tuesday, with a slide in U.S. Treasury yields helping the haven metal recoup more than a third of what it lost a day earlier, when a rally in the U.S. stock market prompted some settling in bullion.
Gold for December delivery GCZ19, +0.34% rose $4.10, or 0.3%, to settle at $1,515.70 an ounce, after the commodity gave up $12, or 0.8%, Monday. September silver SIU19, +1.15% picked up 20.8 cents, or 1.2%, to $17.148 an ounce, following a 1.1% loss a day earlier.
Precious metals gained some altitude as bond yields edged lower, providing some impetus for metals buying. The 10-year Treasury note yield TMUBMUSD10Y, -3.58% was down about 4.5 basis points to 1.5529% as gold futures settled Tuesday. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks traded broadly lower.
Lower debt yields can make gold and other precious assets comparatively more attractive because metals don’t carry a coupon.
Gold has maintained its grip on the $1,500 an ounce level, which many technical analysts view as a bullish signal.
“Gold bulls are engaged in a fierce battle to defend the $1500 psychological level as investors seek riskier assets,” wrote Lukman Otunuga, senior research analyst at brokerage FXTM.
Assets perceived as havens, like gold and bonds, have enjoyed a price run higher because investors have been worried that economic warnings signs point to a coming recession in the U.S., one that compels the Federal Reserve to further lower interest rates after a July 31 rate reduction.
Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s July 31 rate-setting committee will be watched when published Wednesday for signs that the central bank will be as dovish as the market is hoping. Wall Street is pricing in a nearly 100% chance of another interest rate cut when the Fed concludes its two-day policy meeting Sept. 18.
At the July meeting, “the vote for the rate cut was 10:2 and it will be interesting to see how much devil is in the detail,” said Rhona O’Connell, head of market analysis EMEA and Asia regions for INTL FCStone. She pointed out that the Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s question and answer session following that meeting pointed to “paving the way for a 25 point cut in September.
Otunuga said gold is expected to see “ample support from a dovish set of Fed minutes and if Powell signals a September interest rate cut during his speech at Jackson Hole,” he said, referring to the gathering of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyo., which kicks off Friday.
Among other metals traded on Comex, September copper HGU19, -1.00% lost 2.4 cents, or 0.9%, at $2.578 a pound. October platinum PLV19, -0.56% declined by $4, or 0.5%, to $852.80 an ounce and September palladium PAU19, +0.85% settled at $1,489.70 an ounce, up $15.40, or 1%.
The SPDR Gold Shares exchange-traded fund GLD, +0.73% climbed by 0.7%.