IGI Logo

Feb 10 - Gold prices were range bound on Thursday, after hitting a two-week high earlier in the session, as investors awaited U.S. inflation data for pointers on the next moves in the U.S. Federal Reser's monetary policy tightening plans.

Spot gold XAU= was last down 0.1% at $1,830.41 per ounce at 1319 GMT, after reaching a two-week high of $1,835.67. U.S. gold futures GCv1 fell 0.2% to $1,832.40.

"Gold finally appears to be rediscovering its place as an inflation hedge and is now moving independently of U.S. yields," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.

"If inflation expectations start to increase, that could push gold higher as it could prompt the Fed to tighten too quickly and potentially slow down the global economy," he said.

The U.S. consumer price index for January, expected at 1330 GMT, is expected to have risen 7.3% annually, which would be the largest such increase since 1982, but Fed officials are holding out hope that the peak may be near. (Full Story) (Full Story)

A robust inflation reading is expected to burnish gold's appeal as an inflation hedge, but interest rate hikes would raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

In the run-up to the data, a rebound in global share prices paused on Thursday, and currency market moves were small. MKTS/GLOB USD/

Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA, said gold was hitting resistance around $1,835.

"We just need to get this inflation report out of the way, after which gold may generate some fresh momentum, one way or another. It's a little flat on the day so far and may remain so ahead of the CPI release later," he said.

Spot silver XAG= edged down 0.1% to $23.29 per ounce, platinum XPT= fell 0.9% to $1,024.93, while palladium XPD= gained 0.6% at $2,292.04.