Gold holds above $5,000 on Tuesday | Amwal Al Ghad
Gold eased on Tuesday but stayed firmly above the $5,000 threshold as traders positioned for a packed week of U.S. economic releases that could sway expectations for future Federal Reserve policy moves.
Spot bullion slipped 0.7% to $5,030.80 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures for April delivery edged 0.5% lower to $5,051.70. A modest bounce in the U.S. dollar added pressure, trimming appetite for precious metals priced in the greenback.
The pullback wasn’t limited to gold. The broader precious-metals complex softened, with silver down 2.1% to $81.63 an ounce. Platinum retreated 2% to $2,080.30, and palladium shed 1.1% to $1,721.75.
- Gold (spot): $5,030.80, -0.7%
- Gold (U.S. futures, Apr): $5,051.70, -0.5%
- Silver: $81.63, -2.1%
- Platinum: $2,080.30, -2.0%
- Palladium: $1,721.75, -1.1%
Attention now turns to a trio of U.S. data points that could reset market tone: retail sales on Tuesday, the closely watched nonfarm payrolls report on Wednesday, and fresh inflation figures on Friday. Together, these releases will help shape views on growth, labor-market resilience, and price pressures—key inputs for the Fed’s path ahead.
Derivatives markets currently anticipate at least two 25-basis-point rate cuts in 2026. Still, near-term sentiment remains highly sensitive to incoming numbers. Stronger-than-expected data could bolster the dollar and Treasury yields, typically a headwind for non-yielding assets like gold. Softer readings, by contrast, would likely reinforce the appeal of bullion as investors recalibrate rate-cut timelines.
For now, gold’s ability to maintain levels above $5,000 underscores steady haven demand amid policy uncertainty. Short-term swings may hinge on this week’s data pulse, but the broader narrative remains centered on the balancing act between inflation trends, growth momentum, and the Fed’s reaction function.
