U.S. GDP Contraction Sends Gold Surging
Gold surged sharply higher Wednesday -- climbing beyond $1,680 per ounce with a rise of more than $16 per ounce -- while the U.S. dollar weakened to a 14-month low against the euro.
Gold bullion investment vehicle SPDR Gold Trust notched a 1% advance intraday, while silver bullion proxy iShares Silver Trust gained 2.4%. Related mining stocks were largely excluded from the rally, as the Market Vectors Gold Miners Index ETF hovered near the unchanged mark in early afternoon trading.
Mark Chandler, head of global currency strategy for Brown Brothers Harriman, was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as pointing to more evidence today "that a tightening of euro-area financial conditions is under way." The European Central Bank committed only $5 billion to its latest refinancing operation, according to the Journal.
In the United States, meanwhile, news of a 0.1% contraction in U.S. GDP during the fourth quarter of 2012 prompted currency traders to anticipate reduced consideration within the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) for an early cessation of the Federal Reserve's asset-purchase program. Earlier this month, minutes released from the FOMC's December meeting revealed that several members "thought that it would probably be appropriate to slow or to stop purchases well before the end of 2013, citing concerns about financial stability or the size of the balance sheet."
With respect to the FOMC policy statement due for release Wednesday afternoon, DailyFX currency strategist Ilya Spivak foresees a "stronger dovish tone" within the statement as concerns over lackluster domestic growth trump dissenting concerns over the risks from sustained loose monetary policy.
The article U.S. GDP Contraction Sends Gold Surging originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Christopher Barker has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
