Gold retreats as dollar, yields firm on higher US inflation data

March 14 – Gold slid on Thursday after a larger-than-expected rise in February’s US producer price index (PPI) cooled expectations of early rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, boosting Treasury yields and the dollar.

Spot gold was down 0.6% at USD 2,161.39 per ounce as of 2:32 p.m. EDT (1832 GMT), moving away from a record peak of USD 2,194.99 hit on March 8.

US gold futures settled 0.6% lower at USD 2,167.5.

The dollar gained 0.6% against its rivals, making gold less attractive for other currency holders, while benchmark US 10-year note yields rose to a more than one-week high.

“I expect to see continued pressure (on gold), with all of the data showing the US economy is strong, the labor market still strong,” said Chris Gaffney, president of world markets at EverBank.

“It really makes investors question just how quickly the Fed’s going to decide to start cutting (rates).”

US producer prices increased more than expected in February amid a surge in the cost of goods like gasoline and food, which could fan fears that inflation is picking up again.

Higher inflation adds pressure on the Fed to keep interest rates elevated, weighing on non-yielding assets such as gold.

However, traders continue to bet on interest rate cuts in June, pricing in about a 60% chance, compared with 72% before the CPI data earlier this week, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

The Fed is expected to hold rates steady at its policy meeting next week, but the focus will be on the “dot plot” projections.

“Gold is an uncertainty hedge, an inflation hedge with higher inflation and more uncertainty. I think that provides a good floor for precious metals pricing,” Gaffney added.

Spot platinum fell 0.8% to USD 930.95 per ounce, while palladium rose 0.8% to USD 1,067.79.

Silver slipped 0.8% to USD 24.83, after hitting a more than three-month high earlier in the session.

(Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru; Editing by Jan Harvey, Shailesh Kuber, and Shweta Agarwal)