By Ashitha Shivaprasad
(Reuters) – Gold prices were little changed on Thursday, but prospects of a pause in the U.S. Federal Reserves’ rate-hike cycle and economic worries added lustre to safe-haven bullion’s outlook.
Spot gold held steady at $2,031.10 per ounce as of 0612 GMT, while U.S. gold futures were flat at $2,037.50.
“While gold remains supported overall, it doesn’t look overly happy at these highs and investors seem quick to book profits with any break above $2,050 for now,” said Matt Simpson, senior market analyst at City Index.
Bullion prices initially rose on Wednesday after U.S. inflation data was released, before turning negative on profit taking.
The annual increase in U.S. consumer prices slowed to below 5% in April for the first time in two years, potentially providing cover for the U.S central bank to pause interest rate hike next month.
Markets are currently pricing in a 95% chance of the Fed holding rates at their current level in June.
Lower interest rates boost non-yielding bullion’s appeal.
“The debt ceiling debacle seems to have thrown a floor under gold prices. But that’s not to say it may sell off sharply should the ceiling be raised whilst the Fed are in pause mode and investors are on the hunt for weak U.S. data,” Simpson added.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden piled pressure on Republican lawmakers on Wednesday to move quickly to raise the country’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling or risk throwing the world’s largest economy into a recession.
“Gold continues to be supported by central bank buying, a reopening in China, geopolitical skirmishes and a quiet revival in gold ETF (exchange-traded funds) and OTC (over-the-counter) demand,” the World Gold Council (WGC) said.
Spot silver fell 0.6% at $25.27 per ounce, platinum was down 0.3% at $1,111.33 while palladium lost 0.3% at $1,601.58.
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(Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Varun H K)
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