Gold steadies above $4,800 as traders await key US economic data

LONDON (January 22) Gold XAU/USD) trims its intraday losses on Thursday as traders reposition ahead of a heavy slate of US economic data due later in the American session. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades around $4,827, recovering after a short-lived pullback below the $4,800 psychological level.

Bullion came under brief selling pressure, retreating from the record high of $4,888 set on Wednesday, as global risk appetite improved after US President Donald Trump backed away from his threat to impose tariffs on several European countries linked to the Greenland dispute.

However, traders are looking past the easing of immediate trade-war fears, as the broader macro backdrop remains supportive for Gold. Lingering concerns over Federal Reserve (Fed) independence, sustained expectations of lower US interest rates, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and continued strong central bank demand are keeping dip buyers engaged.

Turning to the US economic calendar, traders await the delayed Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation report, along with Personal Income and Personal Spending figures. The docket also includes the advance estimate of Q3 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Weekly Initial Jobless Claims.

Market movers: Trump backs away from tariffs; markets weigh geopolitics and Fed risks

• In a post on Truth Social late Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he would not impose the tariffs scheduled to take effect on February 1 after a “very productive meeting” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, adding that a “framework of a future deal” had been reached on Greenland and the Arctic region.
• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the framework deal with President Trump would require NATO allies to step up efforts on Arctic security. Rutte also said specific negotiations will continue between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland.
• Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen struck a firmer tone, saying: “We can negotiate on everything — political issues, security, investments, the economy. But we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty.”
• US Supreme Court justices voiced skepticism on Wednesday over President Trump’s bid to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, raising concerns about the lack of due process. Justice Brett Kavanaugh warned that it could “weaken, if not shatter, the independence of the Federal Reserve.”
• On the monetary policy front, markets are pricing in around 50 basis points of easing by year-end, although the Fed is widely expected to remain on hold at the January 27-28 meeting. A Reuters poll published on Wednesday showed that 58% of economists forecast no change in rates during the first quarter. Looking further ahead, 55 out of 100 respondents expect rate cuts to resume in June or later, once Jerome Powell’s tenure as Fed Chair ends in May.

FXStreet