Gold futures ended higher Thursday with a decline in the U.S. stock market boosting investment interest despite strength in the dollar, which tends to put some pressure on dollar-denominated prices for the metal.
On Wednesday, gold had settled lower and extended its decline in after-hours electronic trading as a benchmark U.S. dollar index climbed to fresh session highs shortly after the release of hawkish minutes from the Federal Reserve's September monetary policy meeting.
A pair of U.S. economic reports on the Philadelphia-area economy and jobless benefits claims Thursday morning did little to sway financial market thinking away from the reaction to the Fed release a day earlier. Separate data showed the leading economic index rose 0.5% in September, signaling that growth remains steady.
See AlsoOn Thursday, December gold GCZ8, -0.01% climbed by $2.70, or 0.2%, to settle at $1,230.10 an ounce, after losing 0.3% Wednesday. The contract finished Tuesday at $1,231, the highest since July 31 for a most-active contract, according to FactSet data. Gold was up nearly 3% so far for October, trimming its year-to-date drop to about 6%.
"Given equity weakness, gold looks increasingly attractive as a defensive hedge," said Stephen Innes, Asia-Pacific head of trading at Oanda, in an email update. "But with the [dollar] refusing to stay down for the count, markets could be torn between competing narratives over the near term, weaker equities vs. the stronger USD."
The ICE U.S. Dollar Index DXY, -0.36% was up nearly 0.4% at 95.909 Thursday. The dollar index has strengthened 4.1% year to date in the wake of monetary policy tightening at the Federal Reserve.
Meeting minutes Wednesday revealed that a majority of senior Fed officials believe that interest rates will have to continue to rise until policy becomes restrictive, which could provide some resistance to gold bulls because rising rates are likely to juice the dollar and make essentially risk-free government bonds a more attractive investment when compared against bullion.
Some analysts aren't convinced. "While they seem on course for a December hike and perhaps three next year, I believe the Fed and investors at large will soon realize that there is little room for rate hikes beyond that," said Brien Lundin, editor of Gold Newsletter. "Rising rates and a burgeoning federal debt are a toxic mix that will result in debt service costs that would swamp the federal budget. As this reality becomes more widely accepted, I believe gold prices will benefit greatly."
Stocks and gold have been volatile amid mounting concerns over rising Treasury ratesTMUBMUSD10Y, +0.42% A rapid climb in rates also has coincided with some weakness in the U.S. dollar and gold tends to gain when the dollar is weaker because the assets become comparatively more attractive to buyers using other monetary units.
December silver SIZ8, +0.31% finished lower for a third straight session, down 5.9 cents, or 0.4%, at $14.604 an ounce.
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