Gold Gains as Jobs Data Eases Taper Concerns; Base Metals Rally
Gold jumped after a key labor-market report showed the U.S. economy added fewer jobs than forecast.
(Bloomberg) -- Gold jumped to a seven-week high after a report showed the U.S. economy added fewer jobs than forecast, easing concerns that the Federal Reserve will soon pare back stimulus. Nickel and aluminum led gains in most base metals.
Data on Friday showed the U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased 235,000 in August, the smallest gain in seven months and well below economists’ forecasts. The dollar fell after the report, boosting demand the appeal of metals for investors holding other currencies.
Bullion has struggled this year amid a global economic rebound from the pandemic, which has raised the prospect of central banks reining in massive monetary stimulus. Friday’s U.S. jobs print will ease those concerns, and may reflect growing fears about the rapidly spreading delta variant of Covid-19.
The jobs report “will be perceived by commodity traders as preventing the Fed from taking aggressive action to reduce monetary accommodation, even as labor costs risk driving aggregate prices higher,” Bart Melek, head of commodity strategy at TD Securities, said in a note.
The focus will now turn to economic data released ahead of the Fed’s meeting later this month. Any more indications that the U.S. recovery is stuttering may give the central bank cause to delay tapering its asset purchases. Chair Jerome Powell said last week a reduction in monthly bond purchases could begin this year, with the labor market making “clear progress.”
Spot gold rose 1.2% to $1,830.56 an ounce by 2:27 p.m. in New York, after touching $1,834.04, the highest since July 15. Bullion futures for December delivery climbed 1.2% to settle at 1,833.70 on the Comex. Spot silver jumped 3.6%, while platinum and palladium also gained.
In base metals, aluminum added 1.2% to settle $2,727 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange, posting a second straight weekly gain. The metal climbed to a 10-year high this week as Chinese supply was constrained by an electricity savings drive. Copper rose 0.6% and nickel advanced 1.7% on Friday for its biggest weekly gain since June. Tin and lead dropped.
©2021 Bloomberg L.P.