FILE PHOTO: Members of the media use a screen to watch the presidential debate, as Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attend a presidential debate hosted by ABC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
Gold prices eased on Thursday but were just shy of a record high, heading for their best month in seven as a hotly-contested U.S. presidential election race sparked safe-haven demand, while the focus is also on the release of a key U.S. inflation print.
Spot gold was down 0.3% at $2,777.10 per ounce by 0841 GMT, after hitting a record high of $2,790.15 earlier in the session. Prices have firmed nearly 6% for the month so far.
U.S. gold futures dipped 0.4% to $2,789.00.
Opinion polls are too close to call a winner between Republican former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the highly anticipated final phase of the U.S. election.
Underlying forces spurring demand for gold include geopolitical tensions and uncertainties about the outcome of the election, with the market remaining in a "buy-on-dips" mode, said StoneX analyst Rhona O'Connell.
"Gold and the (U.S.) dollar are acting together as safe-havens, which is not unusual in times of strife."
Gold is considered a safe investment during economic and geopolitical turmoil.
Investors are now awaiting U.S. core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) and weekly jobless claims data, due at 1230 GMT, while the payrolls report is on Friday.
"Now, the pace of (U.S) rate cuts will be crucial for the gold market," analysts at ANZ said in a note.
Traders see a 96% chance of a quarter-basis-point rate cut next week.
Lower rates improve the appeal of non-yielding bullion.
UBS expects gold to rise to $2,800 by end of this year and to $3,000 by end-2025.
On Thursday, spot silver fell 0.7% to $33.57 per ounce and was up more than 7% for the month.
Platinum shed 0.4% to $1,004.25. Palladium was down 1.5% at $1,129.92, headed for its best month since January 2022. - Reuters
