Gold declines under pressure from the stronger dollar
Gold prices fell in European trade on Wednesday for the first time in three days under pressure from the stronger dollar.
The dollar held its ground above three-year lows after US job opportunities data, which rose in May, with traders awaiting more crucial labor data later on.
The Price
Gold prices fell 0.35% today to $3327 an ounce, with a session-high at $3345.
On Tuesday, gold prices rose 1.1% away from recent five-week lows at $3247.
US Dollar
The dollar index rose .3% on Wednesday away from three-week lows at 96.38, on track for the first profit in eight days.
Recent US data showed job opportunities rose to 7.77 million by the end of May, beating estimates of 7.32 million.
The data showcases the flexibility of the US labor market ahead of new crucial private sector and government payrolls data this week.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the bank would’ve cut interest rates if it weren’t for President Trump’s tariff plans.
In response to a question at the European Central Bank Forum in Portugal, he said the Fed paused its moves on interest rates when it saw the size of the tariffs, with inflation forecasts rising after their announcement.
Markets are also monitoring US President Trump’s big tax bill, which passed the Senate and headed to the House, and is expected to add $3.3 trillion to total government debt.
US Rates
Investors interpreted Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s last week Congressional testimony as leaning cautious, after saying that rate cuts are likely if inflation doesn’t rise this summer in response to tariffs.
According to the Fedwatch tool, the odds of a Fed 0.25% interest rate cut in July stood at 20%.
The odds of such a cut in September stood at a much better 93%.
SPDR
Gold holdings at the SPDR Gold Trust fell 4.3 tons yesterday to a total of 948.23 tons, the lowest since June 18.
Euro relinquishes four-year peak ahead of Lagarde's remarks
Euro fell in European trade on Wednesday away from a four-year high against the dollar, on track for the first loss in ten days on profit-taking.
The US dollar index is holding its ground above three-year lows as US job openings surged in May, with traders now awaiting more crucial US labor data.
Otherwise, recent eurozone data raised doubts about the odds of an ECB interest rate cut in July as traders ECB President Christine Lagarde’s remarks later today in Portugal at the Central Banks Forum.
The Price
The EUR/USD price fell 0.15% to $1.788, with a session-high at $1.1810.
The euro closed up 0.2% on Tuesday against the dollar, the ninth profit in a row, and the longest such streak of daily gains in 2025, scaling a four-year peak at $1.1830.
The Dollar
The dollar index rose 0.15% on Wednesday, holding above three-year lows at 96.38, and on track for the first profit in eight sessions on short-covering.
Recent US data showed job opportunities rose to 7.77 million by the end of May, beating estimates of 7.32 million.
The data showcases the flexibility of the US labor market ahead of new crucial private sector and government payrolls data this week.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the bank would’ve cut interest rates if it weren’t for President Trump’s tariff plans.
In response to a question at the European Central Bank Forum in Portugal, he said the Fed paused its moves on interest rates when it saw the size of the tariffs, with inflation forecasts rising after their announcement.
Markets are also monitoring US President Trump’s big tax bill, which passed the Senate and headed to the House, and is expected to add $3.3 trillion to total government debt.
European Rates
Eurozone consumer prices rose 2% y/y in June as expected, up from 1.9% in May.
According to a Reuters source, most ECB members now aim at holding interest rates unchanged in July, with the global markets now expecting just an additional 25 basis points of rate cuts by the end of the year.
The odds of a 0.25% ECB rate cut in July now stood below 30%, with traders awaiting more eurozone data and remarks by ECB officials to gather more clues.
Yen gives up four-week high on profit-taking
The yen fell in Asian trade on Wednesday against a basket of major rivals, giving up four-week highs against the greenback, and on track for the first loss in three days on profit-taking.
The US dollar index is holding its ground above three-year lows as US job openings surged in May, with traders now awaiting more crucial US labor data.
The odds of a Japanese interest rate hike in July tumbled following the Bank of Japan’s latest policy meeting, with traders now awaiting more Japanese labor and inflation data to gather clues.
The Price
The USD/JPY price rose 0.25% today to 143.74 yen per dollar, with a session-low at 143.31.
The yen rose 0.4% on Tuesday against the dollar, hitting a four-week high at 142.68 as the dollar continued to face a heavy selloff.
US Dollar
The dollar index rose 0.15% on Wednesday, holding above three-year lows at 96.38, and on track for the first profit in eight sessions on short-covering.
Recent US data showed job opportunities rose to 7.77 million by the end of May, beating estimates of 7.32 million.
The data showcases the flexibility of the US labor market ahead of new crucial private sector and government payrolls data this week.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the bank would’ve cut interest rates if it weren’t for President Trump’s tariff plans.
In response to a question at the European Central Bank Forum in Portugal, he said the Fed paused its moves on interest rates when it saw the size of the tariffs, with inflation forecasts rising after their announcement.
Markets are also monitoring US President Trump’s big tax bill, which passed the Senate and headed to the House, and is expected to add $3.3 trillion to total government debt.
Japanese Rates
The odds of a Bank of Japan’s 0.25% interest rate hike in July is still below 40%.
Now investors await more clues from Japan this week to form a more accurate prediction.
Dow Jones soars alone with a 400-point profit
US stock indices were mixed on Tuesday with NASDAQ and S&P 500 dropping, but Dow Jones bucked the trends with gains.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the bank would’ve cut interest rates if it weren’t for President Trump’s tariff plans.
In response to a question at the European Central Bank Forum in Portugal, he said the Fed paused its moves on interest rates when it saw the size of the tariffs, with inflation forecasts rising after their announcement.
The Fed has maintained interest rates unchanged below 4.5% despite mounting pressures from the White House.
The Fed expects two interest rate cuts by the end of 2025, with Powell even opening the door for a July rate cut based on the data.
The markets expect a 76% chance of no changes in interest rates in July.
Trump has continued to attack Powell heavily due to his stance on interest rates, and publicly announcing plans to replace him soon.
Powell’s Fed Chair term ends in 2026, while his term as member of the Fed ends in 2028.
Otherwise, earlier US data showed the ISM manufacturing PMI up to 49 in June from 48.5 in May.
Official data showed US job openings rose to 7.8 million in May from 7.4 million in the previous reading.
At the close, Dow Jones rallied 0.9%, or 400 points to 44,495 points, with a session-high at 44,604 points.
S&P 500 fell 0.1%, or 7 points to 6198 points, with a session-high at 6210 points.
NASDAQ shed 0.8%, or 167 points to 20,203 points, with a session-high at 20,339 points.