🔍 Key Highlights:
🔹 Gold heads for its steepest weekly drop in nearly two months as traders await U.S. PCE inflation data
🔹 Oil prices fall for a second straight week amid expectations of increased OPEC+ production
🔹 Ongoing trade tensions and tariff uncertainty continue to support demand for safe-haven assets like gold and oil
Gold Sinks Ahead of Inflation Data, Poised for Its Largest Weekly Drop Since Early April
Gold extended its losses on Friday, heading for the steepest weekly decline in nearly two months, as market participants turned cautious ahead of the release of the U.S. PCE inflation index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation.
Gold futures (GC=F) slipped 0.8% during early Asian trading, setting up a weekly loss of almost 2%. According to Kelvin Wong, analyst at Oanda Asia Pacific:
“Gold’s failure to break short-term resistance at $3,328 – both during U.S. hours and again early in Asia – triggered a technical sell-off,” Wong noted.
Geopolitical Risks Reinforce Gold’s Safe-Haven Status
Volatility resurfaced this week after a U.S. appeals court temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that could have overturned Trump-era tariffs. Simultaneously, the Biden administration revoked some Chinese student visas and restricted chip design software exports to Chinese companies – sparking protests from Beijing.
In such an environment, gold remains a key hedge. Goldman Sachs reiterated this week that the metal remains central in their long-term inflation-protection portfolio, alongside oil.
By 1:40 p.m. in Singapore, spot gold pared losses but was still down 0.5%, trading at $3,300 per ounce. Other precious metals, including silver, platinum, and palladium, also saw declines.
Oil Slips Again, Eyes on OPEC+ Decision
Crude oil prices fell slightly for a second week as traders await the outcome of this weekend’s OPEC+ meeting, where an increase in production is widely expected.
🔹 Brent crude fell 21 cents (0.33%) to $63.94
🔹 WTI crude lost 22 cents (0.36%) to $60.72
Both benchmarks are down around 1.3% for the week, with July Brent futures expiring on Friday.
Analysts at JPMorgan highlighted a global oversupply of around 2.2 million barrels per day, warning that prices may fall further unless market balance is restored.
Trump Tariffs, Export Controls Add to Uncertainty
U.S. policy shifts added fuel to market unease. On Thursday, Trump reinstated sweeping tariffs, overturning a court ruling from just a day earlier. The White House also blocked exports of fuels like ethane and butane to China without special licenses and revoked some existing ones.
Since Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2, crude oil has dropped over 10%.
Demand Rebounds, But Below Expectations
Despite the geopolitical tension, U.S. fuel demand rebounded during the Memorial Day holiday. JPMorgan estimates consumption rose by 400,000 barrels per day through May 28 — 250,000 barrels below earlier projections.
Summary:
Gold and oil remain under pressure as markets brace for key data and policy moves. While oil is weighed down by oversupply concerns, gold is holding ground as a trusted safe-haven in uncertain times.
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