Investing.com – Gold prices remained close to session highs supported by falling U.S. bond yields and a weaker greenback as inflation data undershot economists’ estimates.
Gold futures for June delivery on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose by $7.60 or 0.57%, to $1,320.60 a troy ounce.
The 10-yield treasury fell below 3%, pressuring the dollar, lifting gold prices higher as unexpected weakness in consumer inflation, prompted traders to scale back their expectations for a faster pace of inflation.
The Labor Department said on Thursday its Consumer Price index rose 0.2% in April missing economists’ forecast for a 0.3% rise. While year-on-year the CPI rose 2.1% in April missing economists’ forecast.
“The inflation threat is simply not materializing. This will take some wind out of the remaining Fed hawk's sails and put some of those rate hikes on the horizon in jeopardy,” Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi said on Thursday.
Gold is sensitive to moves lower in both bond yields and the U.S. dollar – A weaker dollar makes gold cheaper for holders of foreign currency. While a fall in U.S. bond yields, limits the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as bullion.
Rising geopolitical tensions also propped up demand for the yellow metal amid reports Iran and Israel exchanged missiles in Syria overnight.
The uptick in gold prices on Thursday, kept the precious metal on track to notch its second weekly win.
In other precious metal trade, silver futures rose 1.43% to $16.77 a troy ounce, while platinum futures added 1.17% to $927.30 an ounce.
Copper rose 1.75% to $3.111.