logo
Gold extends rise on Fed rate cut hopes, softer dollar

Gold extends rise on Fed rate cut hopes, softer dollar

Zawya4 days ago
Gold extended gains to a third straight session on Thursday, supported by rising expectations of an interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve in September following tame inflation data, which also weighed on the dollar.
Spot gold rose 0.4% to $3,367.53 per ounce as of 0156 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery added 0.3% to $3,416.70.
"Markets are pricing in the chance that the Fed cuts 50 basis points in September. So the dollar's weakening, gold's going up as a result, yields are also down," said Kyle Rodda, Capital.com's financial market analyst.
"The technical setup of gold looks really constructive. The trend still looks higher. We just basically need to see the market break through $3,400 level on a sustained basis."
The dollar languished near multi-week lows against its rivals, making gold less expensive for holders of other currencies. Benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yields held near a one-week low.
U.S. consumer prices rose only marginally in July, strengthening expectations of a Fed rate cut next month, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noting there is a good chance the central bank will opt for a 50 bps reduction.
Traders now see a cut on September 17 as a near certainty, according to data compiled by LSEG, and even lay around 6% odds on a super-sized half-point trim.
Non-yielding gold thrives in a low-interest-rate environment.
Investors are awaiting the U.S. economic data due later this week, including the U.S. Producer Price Index, weekly jobless claims and retail sales data for clues into the Fed's rate path.
On the geopolitical front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he warned U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his talks with Vladimir Putin that the Russian leader was "bluffing" about his desire to end the war.
Elsewhere, spot silver gained 0.3% to $38.59 per ounce, platinum added 0.1% to $1,340.55 and palladium rose 1.5% to $1,139.52. (Reporting by Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru; Editing by Sumana Nandy and Subhranshu Sahu)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

US-China tariff truce eases pressure on UAE economy
US-China tariff truce eases pressure on UAE economy

Khaleej Times

time3 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

US-China tariff truce eases pressure on UAE economy

With Washington and Beijing agreeing to extend trade negotiations until November 10, avoiding immediate tariff escalation, global markets are breathing a sigh of relief, and the UAE stands among the key beneficiaries, analysts say. The decision by the US and China to keep talks alive has tempered volatility in tech exports and the oil market, both of which are integral to the UAE's trade-linked economy. Lower external trade tension, coupled with contained UAE inflation at 2.4 per cent as of June 2025, is now paving the way for a potential 25 basis-point interest rate cut in September, in line with US Federal Reserve expectations. Market watchers believe such a move could provide a fresh boost to domestic growth momentum, especially in real estate and equities, two sectors already riding strong uptrends. The UAE MSCI index is trading above 20 and near decade highs, while the real estate sector maintains its safe-haven appeal, with the average transaction value hitting Dh2.7 million in the first half of 2025. Razan Hilal, market analyst, CMT at said: 'The UAE economy is in a particularly favourable position right now, benefiting from easing trade tensions, stable inflation, and the likelihood of a rate cut. These factors together could sustain bullish sentiment in equities and keep property market demand robust. Even if the global trade environment takes a negative turn, the UAE's diversified partnerships, particularly its strong bilateral ties with China, give it a unique resilience in weathering short-term shocks.' While the current trade truce provides breathing space, a breakdown in talks could quickly reignite market jitters. However, the UAE's diversified economic base, expanding non-oil sectors, and strategic positioning as a global trade hub offer buffers against such turbulence. In this context, Hilal further comments: 'In case of renewed tariff pressure, supply chain adaptability and strong Asia-GCC trade links could be key stabilizing forces. For now, the UAE's economic outlook remains constructively bullish, with monetary policy, sectoral momentum, and global trade diplomacy aligning in its favour.'

US-India trade talks scheduled for August called off, source says
US-India trade talks scheduled for August called off, source says

Khaleej Times

time4 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

US-India trade talks scheduled for August called off, source says

A planned visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi from August 25-29 has been called off, a source said, delaying talks on a proposed trade agreement and dashing hopes of relief from additional US tariffs on Indian goods from August 27. The current round of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement is now likely to be deferred to another date that has yet to be decided, the source with direct knowledge of the matter said. The US embassy in New Delhi said it has no additional information on the trade and tariff talks, which are being handled by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). India's trade ministry did not immediately reply to a Reuters email seeking comments. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil in a move that sharply escalated tensions between the two nations. The new import tax, which will come into effect from August 27, will raise duties on some Indian exports to as high as 50 per cent — among the highest levied on any US trading partner. Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington collapsed after five rounds of negotiations over disagreement on opening India's vast farm and dairy sectors and stopping Russian oil purchases. India's Foreign Ministry has said the country is being unfairly singled out for buying Russian oil while the United States and European Union continue to purchase goods from Russia.

UAE: Luxury office sales surge as demand soars across Dubai and Abu Dhabi
UAE: Luxury office sales surge as demand soars across Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Khaleej Times

time5 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

UAE: Luxury office sales surge as demand soars across Dubai and Abu Dhabi

A wave of new office developments is on the horizon in Dubai and Abu Dhabi amid surging demand and record occupancy levels, a study showed. In Dubai alone, 83 office sales valued at more than Dh10 million were completed in the first half of 2025, a 207 per cent uplift on the 27 deals seen in H1 2024, according to the Dubai Office Market Review from global property consultancy Knight Frank. Downtown continues to dominate Dubai's office sales market, with average prices climbing to more than Dh5,000 per square foot (psf) in H1 2025, significantly outpacing all other submarkets. Business Bay, which has delivered 21.2 per cent growth since 2020, held its position as the second most expensive submarket, with average prices topping Dh2,000 psf for the first time in H1. Off-plan sales – a key indicator of a healthy market – have also been increasing. Largely concentrated in Business Bay, which is set to deliver more than 1.3 million square feet of office spaces through this model, the surge reflects the strength of investor confidence in purchasing office assets in the city's prime financial hub. In the leasing market, at an average of Dh400 psf for fitted offices, DIFC remains Dubai's most expensive office location. However, robust rental growth has also been recorded in other established submarkets, including The Greens (Dh260 psf), Dubai Design District (Dh280 psf) and Business Bay (Dh251 psf). The business services sector continues to be the main driver of office requirements across Dubai, accounting for 38 per cent of total demand in H1 2025, followed by the tech sector (31 per cent), real estate (12 per cent) and banking and finance (10 per cent). Faisal Durrani, Partner – Head of Research, Mena, said: 'Confidence in Dubai as a global business hub remains exceptionally strong. Indeed, this is reflected in record low vacancy rates for Grade A stock across the city, which stands in sharp contrast to many other global gateway cities. The technology and trading systems sector has emerged as major driver of demand, while sustained activity from financial, real estate and business consulting firms underscores the city's appeal to a diverse range of global occupiers. Developers are moving quickly to capitalise on current demand, with a further 25.2 million square feet expected by 2030, when we forecast the total office stock in the city to approach 148 million square feet. The confidence in the office sector is further evidenced by the boom in high-value transactions, with the number of office sales over Dh10 million setting a record of 83 sales in H1 2025.' In another indicator of rising demand, DIFC reported its busiest H1 period on record for new company registrations since it opened in September 2004. A total of 1,081 new registrations between January and June has increased the total number of companies active in the centre to 7,700. Notably, there has been an increase in insurance firms setting up offices in DIFC and it is now home to 135 insurance-related businesses. The number of banking and capital markets businesses operating in DIFC rose to 289 at the end of H1 2025, while the number of wealth and asset management firms climbed to 440 over the same period, representing year-on-year increases of 17 per cent and 18.9 per cent, respectively. Adam Wynne, Partner – Head of Commercial Agency, UAE, said: 'Market dynamics are driving a clear trend towards consolidation and rightsizing. With existing grade-A space effectively full, large corporations are leveraging the new development pipeline to consolidate their regional operations into more efficient and higher-quality headquarters. Strong demand from single occupiers for entire floors or buildings within the upcoming supply in hubs like DIFC and Business Bay points to this strategic move, as global HQs seek modern buildings that align with corporate mandates.' Dubai office supply to double Office supply in Dubai is set to grow by 15.8 million square feet, with Knight Frank forecasting the total gross leasable area in the emirate will reach 137.8 million sqft by 2030. This development pipeline is heavily concentrated in DIFC, which is forecast to add more than 7 million sqft of build-to-rent office space between 2025 and 2030. Business Bay is also a key growth area, with build-to-sell schemes forming a core part of its future supply, highlighting strong investor confidence in this submarket. Wynne said: 'In response to near-total occupancy in prime buildings, a significant wave of new supply is on the horizon. We are tracking more than 8 million sqft of new office space due to be delivered by 2028, with much of this space being sold off-plan before completion, a notable change from historic trends.' Abu Dhabi's rising requirements Knight Frank's Abu Dhabi Office Market Review for H1 2025 recorded more than 5 million sqft of office requirements in the first half of the year, representing a 110 per cent increase on H1 2024. As in Dubai, the business services sector is the largest demand driver, accounting for 32 per cent of the total, followed by government entities at 9 per cent. Durrani said: 'New rental contracts in Abu Dhabi have been a primary driver of market activity this year, with transaction volumes experiencing a significant peak in January, signalling fresh demand and business expansion in the UAE capital. Mirroring Dubai, with occupancy levels at record highs across grade-A stock, limited availability is driving up rents for best-in-class space'. Musaffah recorded the most significant quarter-on-quarter rental growth in Q2 2025 (73 per cent), followed by Al Bateen (68 per cent) and Al Hisn (19 per cent). This was balanced by more established districts such as Al Danah (-2 per cent) and Al Nahyan (-7 per cent) experiencing minor rental corrections in Q2, driven in part by a higher concentration of older secondary stock. James Hodgetts, Partner – Occupier Strategy & Solutions, MEA, said: 'There is good news on the horizon, with a strong pipeline of high-quality developments poised to be welcome additions to the Abu Dhabi office market. This new supply is likely to help ease current constraints, offering occupiers greater choice and setting new benchmarks for quality, sustainability and design.' Imminent completions include Aldar's HB Tower in Yas Island (238,647 square feet) and the Saas Business Tower on Al Reem Island (129,210 square feet). Both developments offer the flagship, grade-A space that will appeal to international and domestic corporate occupiers. Shehzad Jamal, Partner – Strategy and Consultancy, MENA, said: 'Demand is expected to remain robust and will likely continue to outpace the delivery of new premium supply for the remainder of the year, fuelling further rental growth in the prime segment across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Pre-leasing activity for the landmark projects scheduled for 2026-2028 will be a key indicator of market sentiment. We expect the performance gap between grade-A, well-located assets and older, secondary stock to widen further as the flight-to-quality trend intensifies in the short-term.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store