On August 3, the price of gold on the Kitco exchange dropped $16.32 to $1,935.85 per ounce. If the labor market shows signs of recovery, it will encourage the US Federal Reserve (Fed) to continue raising interest rates, which is positive for gold. Analysts predict a slight decline in payrolls for July, but they will remain at a relatively high level.
Higher interest rates and a stronger dollar are factors that may put pressure on gold prices. According to Daniel Pavillonis, a senior market strategist at RJO Futures, gold prices are currently stuck between $2,000 and $1,900.
There was increased risk aversion in the markets midweek due to the unexpected downgrade of the US government's credit rating by credit rating agency Fitch. This is the first downgrade by a major credit rating agency in over a decade. Fitch cited the expected fiscal decline of the US government in the coming years as the reason for the downgrade.