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Gold Set For Third Quarterly Gain; US Inflation Data in Focus

Marked ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a cart at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
Marked ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a cart at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Gold Set For Third Quarterly Gain; US Inflation Data in Focus

Marked ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a cart at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
Marked ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a cart at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices eased on Friday, but were set for a third straight quarterly rise, while investors looked forward to US inflation data due later in the day for more clarity on the Federal Reserve's interest rate-cut timeline.
Spot gold was down 0.1% at $2,326.27 per ounce, as of 0741 GMT. Prices have gained over 4% for the quarter, Reuters said.
US gold futures was unchanged at $2,336.90.
"Gold is up on the quarter, largely as the scope for monetary easing in the US has increased ... China also bought large amounts of gold for their reserves, which helped offer support in the second quarter," said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive.
After adding to its gold reserves for 18 consecutive months, official data from the People's Bank of China (PBOC) showed its holdings were flat in May. A survey by the World Gold Council, however, found that more central banks may increase gold reserves within 12 months.
Gold rose more than 1% in the previous session after data showed a continued, though moderate, slowdown in US economic activity. Currently, the market sees a 64% chance of a first Fed rate cut in September, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
However, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman reiterated on Thursday that she is not ready yet to support a rate cut with inflation pressures still elevated.
The US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index - the Fed's preferred inflation measure - is due at 1230 GMT.
A soft set of PCE figures is required to keep hopes of Fed easing alive and further support gold, City Index senior analyst Matt Simpson said.
While bullion is considered an inflation hedge, higher rates increase the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset.
Spot silver rose 0.3% to $29.15 and platinum gained 1.2% to $999.20. Both metals were set for quarterly gains.
Spot palladium climbed 2.6% to $953.07.

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Israel's Shekel and Bonds Slide as Gaza Ceasefire Buckles

New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nir Elias/Illustration/File photo
New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nir Elias/Illustration/File photo
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Israel's Shekel and Bonds Slide as Gaza Ceasefire Buckles

New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nir Elias/Illustration/File photo
New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nir Elias/Illustration/File photo

Israel's currency fell alongside its bonds and stock market on Tuesday as a wave of deadly airstrikes by its military in Gaza threatened the complete collapse of an already fragile two-month ceasefire with Hamas.

Concerns about both the humanitarian and economic costs of a return to intense fighting spiked as Israel's resumption of bombing of Gaza, which it said was a "preemptive offensive" to try to force the release of its remaining hostages, prompted anger from Hamas.

Israel's shekel dropped as much as half a percent against both the dollar and euro, while many of its government bonds, which suffered a wave of rating downgrades last year due to the war, had their biggest falls in over a month, Reuters reported.

Ronen Menachem, chief markets economist at Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, said a resumption in the conflict could see further falls in the shekel and a renewed rise in Israel’s bond market risk premium.

"The market will react based on whether this is perceived as a defined and limited operation or the opening of a broader campaign," he said.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to take Tuesday's "strong action" in response to Hamas's refusal to release the remaining 59 hostages it holds following its October 7, 2023 attacks and its rejection of other ceasefire proposals.

The Palestinian militant group accused Netanyahu of breaching the ceasefire deal and jeopardizing efforts by mediators to secure a permanent truce.

Negotiating teams from Israel and Hamas had been in Doha as mediators from Egypt and Qatar sought to bridge the gap between the two sides after the end of an initial phase in the ceasefire, in which 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais were released in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.