PRECIOUS-Gold hits 1-month low on Fed's higher-for-longer rate narrative

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 09/26/23 11:21 PM EDT

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Dollar at 10-month peak as yields stay elevated

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Kashkari: 40% chance of Fed needing 'meaningfully' higher rates

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SPDR Gold Trust holdings lowest since August 2019

(Adds graphic and updates prices, as of 0700 GMT)

By Swati Verma

Sept 27 (Reuters) - Gold prices dropped on Wednesday to their lowest levels in more than a month, weighed down by an assurgent U.S. dollar as markets made adjustments to a higher-for-longer interest rate scenario.

Spot gold was down 0.1% at $1,897.91 per ounce by 0700 GMT, after hitting its lowest level since Aug. 22 earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures eased 0.2% to $1,915.90.

The dollar stood strong at a 10-month high against its major peers as Treasury yields stayed elevated on the prospect of higher-for-longer U.S. rates.

There is a 40% chance that the U.S. Federal Reserve will need to raise rates "meaningfully" to beat inflation, Minneapolis Fed Bank President Neel Kashkari said on Tuesday.

Higher interest rates raise the opportunity cost of holding bullion, which is priced in dollars and does not yield any interest.

The prevailing higher-for-longer rate narrative seems to be overriding safe-haven flows for the yellow metal, IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said.

"It may have to take a series of data ahead, more notably the upcoming inflation and job report, to provide some justification that the Fed may not follow through with its last rate hike and have more policy flexibility for rate cuts if needed."

The U.S. personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, Fed's preferred inflation measure, is due on Friday. The Labor Department will release the monthly employment report on Oct. 6 followed by the CPI report on Oct. 12.

U.S. consumer confidence dropped to a four-month low in September, weighed down by persistent worries about higher prices and rising fears of a recession.

SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings touched a more than four-year low.

Spot silver dropped 0.1% to $22.84 per ounce, having touched a 12-day low, while platinum rose 0.4% to $907.14.

Palladium snapped a four-session losing streak, gaining 1.4% to $1,240.65.

(Reporting by Swati Verma in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Rashmi Aich)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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