Gold price surges on poor ISM data, rising trade tensions

NEW YORK (June 4) Gold price rallied over 0.80% on Wednesday during the North American session. The release of weaker-than-expected economic data from the United States (US) pushed XAU/USD higher as business activity softened and the jobs market added fewer people to the workforce. The golden metal trades at $3,382 after hitting a daily low of $3,343.

Sino-US tensions had driven Bullion prices higher. Uncertainty about the outcome of the trade discussions between the White House and China and softer economic data in the US would underpin Gold prices.

In the meantime, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order increasing the levies on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective June 4, ahead of a scheduled phone call between Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping later this week.

US economic data revealed that the economy is cooling, which could warrant further action by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed that business activity in the services sector contracted for the first time in almost a year. At the same time, private hiring in the country slowed sharply in May, according to the ADP National Employment Change data.

Following the data release, Trump complained about Fed Chair Jerome Powell being too late to lower borrowing costs. During the week, Fed officials expressed that they’re patient regarding resuming the ongoing easing cycle that started in the second half of last year, adding that the impact of tariffs is unknown, which could fuel a persistent rise in prices.

Ahead this week, traders are eyeing US Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending May 31, followed by Nonfarm Payroll figures on Friday.

Gold daily market movers: XAU/USD soars as US Treasury yields plummet, weighing on the US Dollar

• Gold price rallies as the US Dollar dives. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the value of the Greenback against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.44% down to 98.81.
• US Treasury bond yields are falling. The US 10-year Treasury yield plunges 7.5 basis points to 4.383%. US real yields have followed suit and are also down by the same amount at 2.063%, a tailwind for Bullion prices.
• The ADP National Employment Change figures for May rose by 37K, missing estimates of 110K and below the previous month’s revised 60K print.
• The ISM Services PMI tumbled from 51.6 in April to 49.9 in May, below forecast of 52.0.
• Money markets suggest that traders are pricing in 54 basis points of easing toward the end of the year, according to Prime Market Terminal data.

FXStreet