Wednesday, August 20, 2014

"...Gold Weakens in Wake of Hawkish FOMC Minutes"

Higher real rates really mess with the opportunity cost losses computation for holding gold.
From Kitco:
Gold prices sold off moderately in the aftermath of FOMC minutes that revealed Fed officials believe the U.S. labor situation is moving closer to normal, and with other clues hinting the Fed could raise interest rates sooner than many expected. December Comex gold was last down $6.50 at $1,290.20 an ounce. Spot gold was last quoted down $5.90 at $1,289.75. December Comex silver last traded up $0.009 at $19.485 an ounce.

The FOMC minutes report was the economic highlight of the day for the market place. The Fed officials’ wording that the U.S. labor situation continues to improve fell into the camp of monetary policy hawks, as it hinted the U.S. central bank could move to raise interest rates sooner than many expected.

Now, focus turns to later this week and the annual Kansas City Federal Reserve meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, that begins on Thursday. The confab of world central bankers has in the past yielded important U.S. monetary policy speeches and clues to the direction of monetary policy. Fed Chair Janet Yellen and ECB President Mario Draghi are scheduled to speak on Friday in Jackson Hole....MORE
Here's Kitco spot, $1291.10:
24 hr gold chart