The US Dollar Index (DXY) is hovering just above a three-month low around 98.50–98.90 after a sharp midweek decline. Today’s focus: Preliminary August Manufacturing and Services PMI from Germany, Eurozone, UK, and the US. These can move EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD pairs significantly.
As investors saw the U.S. Treasury's bond buyback ploy as only a short-term solution and voiced new worries about officials' increasingly interventionist stance, the dollar was on shaky ground and was poised for a weekly loss on Friday.
As the U.S. dollar declined and Treasury's efforts to keep longer-term yields under control continued to underpin bullion, gold prices on Friday stayed firmly above the $4,500-per-ounce level, leaving the metal on track for a third consecutive weekly increase. Gold has increased by around 4% as a result of this week's gain, and it is expected to close August more than 11% higher.
Oil prices were steady in early trading on Thursday as investors assessed the outlook for the US-Iran confrontation and the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist of Nissan Securities Investment, oil prices have stayed elevated due to intermittent attacks in the Middle East. However, the market lacks momentum without a substantial escalation. Given the uncertainties surrounding peace talks and tensions between the United Arab Emirates,
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday evening that the United States will impose more stringent economic sanctions on Iran as the two countries continue to disagree over the Strait of Hormuz.
Gold prices remained at a more than two-month high on Thursday, aided by lower US Treasury yields following the government's announcement of a wider program of buybacks for longer-term debt. A weaker dollar and revived promises of improved financial conditions also bolstered bullion, though investors remained wary of the Federal Reserve's hawkish inflation outlook.