Gold has posted sharp losses in the Tuesday session. In North American trade, the spot price for one ounce of gold is $1231.77, down 0.20% on the day. On the release front, Industrial Production rebounded in June with a gain of 0.6%, after a decline of 0.1% in May. Later in the day, the U.S releases a housing report. All eyes are on Jerome Powell, as the Federal Reserve chair testifies before the Senate Banking Committee.
Gold has resumed its downward movement. Earlier on Tuesday, gold prices slipped to $1266, its lowest level since June 2017. Solid consumer spending numbers on Monday are weighing on the metal. After a soft first quarter, U.S retail sales reports have rebounded in the second quarter. Core retail sales were revised upwards to 0.8% in May, and the June gain of 0.5% edged above the forecast of 0.4%. Retail sales gained 0.4%, and were up an impressive 6.6% on an annualized basis. Consumer spending is a key driver of economic growth, and a tight labor markets and firming inflation are further indications that the economy is in excellent shape. The Fed is widely expected to raise rates again at the September meeting, with odds of a quarter-point hike at 87%, according to the CME Group.
The trade war between the U.S and China is raising concerns not just on the equity markets but at the Federal Reserve as well. On Friday, Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan said he would have to downgrade his economic outlook for the economy if the tariff battle continues. Kaplan said that U.S tariffs on steel and aluminum imports had dampened capital expenditures plans and further trade tensions could lead to currency fluctuations and geopolitical instability.
