Gold prices rise past $2,400 with Fed, Middle East tensions in focus

Investing.com– Gold prices rose in Asian trade on Wednesday, encouraged by a softer dollar as traders awaited more cues on interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve.

The yellow metal also benefited from some safe haven buying after the reported killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by an Israeli strike in Iran pointed to a potential escalation in the war. 

Spot gold rose 0.3% to $2,419.11 an ounce, while gold futures expiring in December rose 0.5% to $2,463.85 an ounce by 01:09 ET (05:09 GMT). 

Gold firms with Fed rate cut cues on tap

The yellow metal broke past the $2,400 an ounce level as traders pivoted out of the dollar before the conclusion of a Fed meeting later in the day.

The central bank is widely expected to keep rates steady. But focus will be closely on any potential signals on interest rate cuts, following some soft inflation readings and dovish comments from Fed officials.

General consensus is largely for a 25 basis point cut in September. Lower rates benefit gold, given that they decrease the opportunity cost of investing in the yellow metal.

Israel-Hamas tensions benefit precious metals

Gold and other precious metals also benefited from a measure of safe haven buying, after multiple reports said Haniyeh was killed by an Israeli strike in Tehran. 

The move presents a potential escalation in the Israel-Hamas war, which reached its ninth consecutive month with no signs of a ceasefire in sight.

The threat of an all-out war in the Middle East also grew, given that tensions between Iran and Israel were already elevated following missile attacks between the two earlier this year. Additionally, Israel carried out strikes against Iran-backed, Lebanon-based armed group Hezbollah earlier this week. 

Among other precious metals, platinum futures rose 0.7% to $976.75 an ounce, while silver futures rose 0.8% to $28.745 an ounce. 

Copper rebounds on China stimulus hopes 

Among industrial metals, copper prices rebounded from near four-month lows, as soft purchasing managers index data and positive government comments pushed up hopes for more stimulus measures in top importer China. 

Benchmark copper futures on the London Metal Exchange rose 1.7% to $9,123.50 a tonne, while one-month copper futures rose 1.1% to $4.1368 a pound. 

PMI data showed China’s manufacturing sector shrank for a third consecutive month in July, while non-manufacturing growth slowed. 

The data came just after a meeting of China’s Politburo showed the government promising more stimulus measures, especially those aimed at boosting consumer sentiment. 

Comments from the Politburo and the weak PMI readings ramped up hopes for more stimulus measures, although analysts warned that Beijing’s execution should be watched for more cues.