Gold held steady near $3,330 an ounce following a 2% gain over the previous two sessions, as markets digested the Senate’s approval of President Trump’s tax legislation that could expand the deficit by $3.3 trillion over the next decade. This fiscal expansion may enhance gold’s appeal as a safe-haven asset.
Investors are now focusing on Thursday’s June employment report, which is expected to show slower job growth and higher unemployment – data that could strengthen the case for Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Lower interest rates typically benefit gold since it doesn’t yield income. Despite Tuesday’s stronger-than-expected job openings data reducing hopes for a July rate cut, gold remains up more than 25% year-to-date, trading about $170 below its April record, buoyed by geopolitical tensions, central bank buying, and strong ETF inflows.