The May jobs report could persuade investors to leave gold for stocks, but gold is expected to remain an attractive option for those seeking a safe-haven for their money. See the following article from The Street for more on this.
Gold prices Wednesday settled slightly lower as investors took profits after gold’s double-digit gain and improving risk appetite led traders away from gold and into stocks.
Gold for August delivery closed down $4.30 to $1,222.60 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price Wednesday has traded as high as $1,228.90 and as low as $1,215. The U.S. dollar index was slipping 0.15% to $86.75 while the euro dipped 0.23% to $1.22 vs. the dollar. The spot gold price Wednesday lost more than $1, according to Kitco’s gold index.
Profit-takers weighed on the gold price as the metal was one of the few assets Tuesday to yield a positive return. Risk appetite also returned today after a two-day losing streak and investors opted for stocks rather than gold. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 2.25% higher while gold slipped after rallying $12 on Tuesday.
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The tug-of-war between profit-takers and bargain-hunters promises to continue and keep gold prices in a narrow trading range. Gold is expected to retain its appeal as a safe-haven asset as spooked investors search for a protected place to put their money. Although gold doesn’t offer a dividend or a yield, it is a form of money that retains its value.
According to China’s Xinhua news outlet, Iran’s central bank will sell euros for the U.S. dollar and gold. Iran joins a host of other emerging countries like China and India that have been ramping up their gold reserves and discarding paper currencies. Typically central banks increase their gold reserves as needed apart from cost and fundamentals but Iran’s shift out of euros could be regarded as a criticism of the currency’s sustainability. India currently has 6% of its reserves in gold while Asia only holds 2% as compared to the U.S. which has 74%.
Gold prices will find direction from any news coming out of the eurozone countries as well as the U.S. nonfarm payroll report on Friday. The unemployment rate is expected to fall to 9.8% from 9.9% but a better-than-expected reading could improve risk appetite and prompt investors to rotate out of gold and into stocks. However, with selling pressuring running rampant, a disappointing number could result in a flight to safety and buoy gold prices. Gold is still trying to break its record high of $1,249 an ounce.
Silver prices settled down 23 cents to $18.31 while copper closed 2 cents lower to $3.04.
Gold mining stocks, a more risky and more profitable way to invest in gold, were higher. Barrick Gold(ABX) was rising 1.24% to $43.12 while Newmont Mining(NEM)Â was adding more than 1.50% to $55.50. Other large gold miners AngloGold Ashanti(AU) and Goldcorp(GG)Â were trading higher at $42.80 and $44.18, respectively.
Shares of Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold(FCX)Â were rallying 3.81% to $69.02 while Yamana Gold(AUY)Â was trading more than 2% higher at $10.90.
Shares of the gold exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Shares(GLD), were slipping 0.22% to $119.65.
This article has been republished from The Street. You can also view this article at The Street, an investment news and analysis site.
