Gold Eases as Dollar Firms; Focus on Fed Minutes

A view of smelted gold bars at a smelting facility in Accra, Ghana August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko
A view of smelted gold bars at a smelting facility in Accra, Ghana August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko
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Gold Eases as Dollar Firms; Focus on Fed Minutes

A view of smelted gold bars at a smelting facility in Accra, Ghana August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko
A view of smelted gold bars at a smelting facility in Accra, Ghana August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko

Gold prices edged lower on Tuesday, pressured by a stronger dollar, while investors awaited minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting and more economic data for insights on the US interest rate outlook.
Spot gold fell 0.3% to $2,634.69 per ounce by 0728 GMT. US gold futures lost 0.5% to $2,653.90, Reuters reported.

The dollar index hovered near a seven-week high, making bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies.
Gold has lost some momentum due to the rising dollar and bond yields, but downside risks may be limited by global conflicts that favor safe-haven assets, said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel's third-largest city, Haifa, while Israel appeared ready to expand its offensive into Lebanon, marking one year since the Hamas attack that ignited the Gaza war.
Bullion is considered a safe investment during times of political uncertainty.
Investors are focused on the minutes of the Fed's latest policy meeting, due on Wednesday, followed by the US Consumer Price Index on Thursday and the Producer Price Index data on Friday. Several Fed officials are also lined up to speak throughout the week.
"Looking ahead, if we see any upside surprises in the US CPI numbers this week, this could further boost the dollar and pressure gold," Waterer said.
According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets are no longer pricing in a 50-basis-point reduction at the Fed's November meeting after last week's strong jobs report. They now see an 88% chance for a 25-bp cut.
Meanwhile, St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem expressed support for more rate cuts, emphasizing that the economy's performance will guide policy.
Spot silver lost 2.02% to $31.08 per ounce. Platinum was down 1% to $962.90 and palladium fell nearly 3% to $994.00.
Elsewhere, China said it was "fully confident" of meeting its economic targets, but refrained from introducing stronger fiscal steps to get the economy back on track.



Saudi Air Connectivity Program Negotiates with Global Firms to Expand Routes to Kingdom

The Saudi Air Connectivity Program participating at the Routes World 2024 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Air Connectivity Program participating at the Routes World 2024 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Air Connectivity Program Negotiates with Global Firms to Expand Routes to Kingdom

The Saudi Air Connectivity Program participating at the Routes World 2024 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Air Connectivity Program participating at the Routes World 2024 (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Air Connectivity Program is meeting with major international transport companies at the Routes World 2024 in Manama, Bahrain.

The goal is to attract these companies to the local market, boosting air routes to 250 destinations and aiming to welcome 150 million visitors by 2030.

The program is participating in the three-day event to highlight services and opportunities for improving air connectivity with Saudi Arabia and reaching international markets.

The Saudi Air Connectivity Program has scheduled over 100 meetings at Routes World 2024 with global aviation leaders to discuss partnerships and showcase Saudi Arabia's strategic location as it seeks to expand international air routes.

Rashed Al-Shammari, the program’s Executive Vice President of Commercial Affairs, shared that discussions took place with airlines from Europe, including Switzerland, Germany, and the UK, as well as companies from China.

They explored opportunities for launching new direct flights to Saudi Arabia.

Adding New Seats

Al-Shammari highlighted that the program met with airline decision-makers to present opportunities for both currently served routes, which aim to expand flights, and underserved routes needing additional flights and seats.

He confirmed that interested companies expressed a desire to enter the Saudi market, but attracting them may take six months to five years, depending on factors like distance, aircraft availability, and profitability, especially following the COVID-19 crisis’s impact on the aviation industry.

Looking forward, Al-Shammari announced that follow-up meetings would focus on persuading airlines to establish new routes to underserved markets or enhance existing services.

Strengthening Partnerships

The program invites interested parties to visit its booth at Routes World 2024, where aviation leaders can learn about opportunities available across Saudi Arabia's 29 airports.

Launched in 2021, the Saudi Air Connectivity Program aims to boost tourism by improving air links between Saudi Arabia and the world through developing existing and new routes.

It works as the executive enabler of the National Tourism Strategy and the National Aviation Strategy to foster collaboration between public and private sectors in tourism and aviation, enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global destination.