Gold Rises Ahead of Key U.S. Inflation Data

Redfin has reported a significant shift in the housing market, indicating that American homebuyers are facing affordability challenges as the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate stands at 6.19%. This trend suggests a growing imbalance with more sellers than buyers, marking 2025 as a notably strong buyer's market.

The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a cut in interest rates next week, following disappointing U.S. jobs data that has raised concerns about the labor market. This anticipated decision comes amidst ongoing speculation and discussions among Fed officials regarding the appropriate monetary policy response to current economic conditions.

The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge indicated a moderate trend in September, remaining below 3%, with a month-over-month price increase that is not expected to hinder discussions of a potential interest rate cut at the upcoming central bank meeting.

US Treasuries concluded their worst week since April, driven by conflicting economic data that raised doubts about the Federal Reserve's potential interest rate cuts in the upcoming year. The decline in Treasuries reflects market uncertainty as investors grapple with mixed signals from the labor market and economic indicators.

Silver prices have reached a new record high, buoyed by strong inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs), marking the second consecutive week of gains. This surge reflects heightened demand for silver as investors seek safe-haven assets amid economic uncertainties.

US stocks experienced modest gains on Friday as traders adopted a cautious approach ahead of the Federal Reserve's impending interest-rate cut decision next week, while Treasuries faced their worst weekly performance since June.

Amanda Lynam, head of macro credit research at BlackRock, indicated that the Federal Reserve may have 'one or two' more interest rate cuts left, addressing concerns surrounding the private credit market during an interview with Romaine Bostick on Bloomberg.

US stocks experienced small gains on Thursday, buoyed by stronger-than-expected jobs data, which did not alter expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut next week. Meta's stock surged due to budget cuts, reflecting a positive response from investors.