In the latest market developments, gold prices exhibited a muted performance on Wednesday, with investors maintaining a cautious stance ahead of the impending policy decision by the US Federal Reserve and its updated economic outlook. These deliberations come against the backdrop of rising fuel costs, which are contributing to inflationary pressures. As of 0319 GMT, spot gold held steady at $1,930.51 per ounce, remaining below its recent peak reached on Tuesday, which was the highest since September 5. Simultaneously, US gold futures saw a slight decline of 0.1%, settling at $1,951.70.

The highly anticipated policy statement and interest rate verdict from the Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee are scheduled for release at 1800 GMT, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell slated to conduct a press conference at 1830 GMT. Market strategist Yeap Jun Rong of IG noted that real Treasury yields have maintained an elevated position leading up to the Fed meeting. This reflects a prevailing sentiment geared towards a scenario of the Fed adopting a cautiously hawkish stance, which has left gold prices in a state of caution.

While it is widely anticipated that the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged, the primary focus rests on the updated economic forecasts and whether the central bank believes further rate hikes are necessary before the year's end. Rising oil prices have compounded concerns about inflation and are contributing to expectations that the Fed may opt to maintain higher interest rates for an extended period. On a related note, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently emphasized the need for a slowdown in US economic growth to align it more closely with its potential rate. This move is seen as essential to bring inflation back in line with target levels, particularly since the economy is currently operating at full employment.

In the broader economic landscape, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised down its expectations for economic growth in developing Asia for the year. The revision is attributed to concerns over the weakness in China's property sector and risks associated with El Niño. Meanwhile, the SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, reported a 0.2% decline in its holdings on Tuesday. In the precious metals market, spot silver experienced a 0.8% decrease, reaching $23.05 per ounce, while platinum saw a 0.4% dip to $935.25. Conversely, palladium exhibited a marginal uptick of 0.1%, reaching $1,261.15 per ounce.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)