Gold traded in a narrow band in Asian markets on Monday as public holidays across major markets kept volumes light and market participants looked ahead to a series of U.S. economic cues. The metal has exhibited heightened volatility across the past two weeks as investors weigh the likely path for U.S. interest rates.
Spot gold slipped 0.3% to $5,028.79 per ounce, while April gold futures were unchanged at $5,047.21 per ounce as of 20:29 ET (01:29 GMT). Despite the recent swings, the yellow metal closed last week above the psychologically important $5,000-an-ounce threshold.
Other precious metals similarly moved within tight ranges on Monday. Spot silver declined 0.3% to $77.2465 per ounce, and spot platinum ticked up 0.4% to $2,076.94 per ounce. Trading activity remained subdued amid holidays in China, South Korea, and the United States.
Key upcoming data in focus
The market spotlight this week is firmly on the United States. Investors are awaiting the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January meeting, due on Wednesday, which are expected to shed light on the central bank’s stance toward interest rates. Market participants are particularly attentive to these minutes given broader uncertainty around the Fed’s future policy direction.
Also on tap later in the week is the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for December - the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation. This print is expected to factor into the Fed’s long-term rate outlook.
Recent drivers of precious metals
Precious metals recorded some gains last week as safe-haven demand increased amid elevated tensions between the United States and Iran. Softer-than-expected U.S. consumer price index data also provided support. Nonetheless, gold and other metals were still recovering from substantial declines suffered in late January and have experienced choppy, two-way trading during recent weeks as market participants grapple with evolving monetary policy signals.
Those late-January declines followed the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the expected successor to Jerome Powell when Powell’s term ends in May. The nomination was widely interpreted as indicating a less dovish stance, generating concern that U.S. interest rates could remain relatively high over the longer term.
With major markets on holiday and liquidity reduced, price moves have been muted. Traders and investors will watch the Fed minutes and December PCE print closely for clearer indications of the policy path that could reinstate larger directional moves in precious metals markets.