Gold Extends Gain Past $1,700 As Poor U.S. Data Shifts Sentiment

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(Bloomberg) -- Gold extended an advance past $1,700 as weak US data drove a significant sentiment shift in the precious metals markets.

The metal is now closing in on its 50-day moving average after surging Monday when a US manufacturing gauge slumped more than expected. The price has traded mostly below the technical marker since April, a sign of poor sentiment that saw bullion slump into a bear market.

Now the metal is at a crucial juncture as traders await US nonfarm payrolls this week for more clues on the future path of central bank monetary policy. A weaker-than-expected print could further diminish rate hike expectations, bolstering bullion at a significant technical turning point.

“Gold has broken the $1,700 an ounce mark again meaning that the break below $1,660-1,700 an ounce was for me a false break,” said Georgette Boele, an analyst at ABN Amro Bank NV. “We probably have seen the lows for now.”

Other US employment data including job openings and the ADP Research Institute's figures will also be key this week. So far the Fed has struggled to weaken the labor market with tighter policy, a major part of its battle with decades-hot inflation.

Tighter central bank policy typically hurts gold by pushing up bond yields, making the non-yielding asset less attractive. Safe haven flows and expectations for more aggressive rate hikes in the US than elsewhere has also driven a rally in the dollar, which is negatively correlated with bullion.

“Risk aversion has eased and investors stopped being interested in the US dollar as safe haven,” Boele said. “Some Fed officials are already a bit less hawkish.”

Spot gold advanced 0.2% to $1,703.44 an ounce by 12:05 p.m. in London, after earlier touching a three-week high. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index weakened 0.3%, following its 0.5% decline on Monday. Silver also added to its rally on Monday, when it jumped 8.8% as short-covering drove it through several key technical levels. Platinum and palladium gained.

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