Gold hovers near five-week high as Greenback remains weak despite strong US GDP

NEW YORK (August 28) Gold (XAU/USD) extends its advance for a third straight session on Thursday, trading near a more than five-week high, buoyed by a softer US Dollar (USD) and subdued Treasury yields. The precious metal had come under pressure on Wednesday when a stronger Greenback limited gains, but the overnight pullback in the US Dollar, along with lower bond yields, has helped bullion regain momentum.

At the time of writing, XAU/USD is consolidating gains near the $3,411 mark as traders digest the latest United States (US) economic data. The second estimate of Q2 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed a 3.3% annualized expansion, beating the 3.1% forecast and up from 3.0% previously. The GDP Price Index and headline PCE Prices (prelim) both printed at 2.0%, slipping from 2.1%. Meanwhile, the preliminary Core PCE Price Index rose 2.5% QoQ, just below the 2.6% expected, while Initial Jobless Claims fell to 229,000, slightly better than the 230,000 consensus and down from a revised 234,000.

Beyond the data, broader market sentiment continues to underpin Gold, with investors turning to the metal as a hedge against concerns over the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) independence amid political pressure. Persistent inflation worries in the US are also keeping bullion attractive as a store of value, while ongoing trade frictions and global growth risks add to safe-haven demand.

Market movers: Softer US Dollar and yields support Gold, all eyes on US data

• The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the value of the Greenback against a basket of six major currencies, is trading below 98.00 and remains confined within this month’s narrow range. The Greenback stays under pressure as US protectionist trade policies, political interference with the Fed’s independence, and expectations of a dovish Fed weigh on sentiment.
• US Treasury yields remain under pressure across the curve. The 10-year note fell toward a two-week low, holding near 4.23%, while the 30-year yield remains under pressure for a second straight session, hovering around 4.91%. The rate-sensitive 2-year yield trades at 3.62%, after hitting its lowest level since May on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the 10-year TIPS yield — a gauge of real rates — eased to 1.79%, reinforcing support for Gold as lower real yields reduce the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset.
• US Pending Home Sales: Contracts to buy previously owned homes fell 0.4% in July, a deeper decline than the 0.1% drop expected, though an improvement from the 0.8% fall in June. The data highlights continued weakness in the housing market, weighed down by high borrowing costs and affordability challenges.
• According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets are pricing an 87% probability of a 25-basis-point (bps) interest rate cut in September, with a total of 50 bps of easing anticipated by year-end. Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s dovish remarks at the Jackson Hole Symposium, noting that conditions “may warrant” rate cuts, have strengthened expectations of a policy shift. However, the outlook remains data-dependent, with upcoming inflation and labor market releases set to guide the Fed’s path.
• US President Donald Trump’s effort to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook is heading to the courts, but the White House is already preparing a replacement. On Tuesday, Trump said, “We have some very good people for that position,” while noting that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is overseeing the selection process for the new Fed Chair. Reports suggest that Stephen Miran, nominated to replace Adriana Kugler on the Fed Board, could instead be redirected to Cook’s seat for a longer term. In the meantime, Senate hearings for Miran’s nomination to replace Kugler are expected next week.
• In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, New York Fed President John Williams described the US as a “slowing economy, not a stalling economy,” noting GDP growth has eased to around 1%-1.5% and hiring momentum has cooled. He stressed that policy remains in a “modestly restrictive” stance, with rates above neutral, and reiterated that if the economy evolves as expected, interest rates will eventually need to move closer to neutral, meaning cuts could be appropriate over time.

FXStreet