Gold rose to a record Wednesday on haven demand before the US election, and held a narrow gain after jobs and GDP data showed the ongoing resilience of the US economy.
Bullion climbed as high as $2,789.86 an ounce, topping the previous record posted on Tuesday, and was 0.2% higher after US jobs data beat expectations, while GDP figures showed robust growth in the economy over the third quarter.
The numbers should keep the Fed on track to continue cutting interest rates in the coming quarters, including at their meeting on Nov. 6-7. Lower borrowing costs are typically beneficial for the precious metal that doesn’t offer any interest.
The precious metal has surged by more than one-third this year, aided by central-bank buying and haven demand due to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. The tight US presidential race that’s less than a week away is also front of mind for investors, with uncertainty over the outcome buoying gold purchasing.
“Market positioning is elevated ahead of the election but also in anticipation of further Fed rate cuts and broader market and geopolitical uncertainty,” Standard Chartered Plc analyst Suki Cooper said in a note. “Under a Trump-win scenario, markets are focused on the implications of wider tariffs, as well as inflationary pressures as a result of such tariffs.”
Global gold demand swelled about 5% in the third quarter, setting a record for the period and lifting consumption above $100 billion for the first time, according to the World Gold Council. The increase — which saw volumes climb to 1,313 tons — was underpinned by stronger investment flows from the West, including more high-net-worth individuals.
Spot gold rose 0.2% to $2,779.91 an ounce as of 10:55 a.m. in New York.
Attention will now turn to US inflation and payroll figures at the end of the week for further clues on the Fed’s easing trajectory into 2025. The reports are forecast to show underlying resilience in the economy and a hiccup in the labor market after two hurricanes. Economists expect policymakers to cut rates by a quarter percentage point next week.
