Gold prices were steady on Thursday, supported by dovish signals from the Federal Reserve but limited by a resilient dollar ahead of key US inflation data. Spot gold slipped 0.2 per cent to $4,333.12 an ounce, while US gold futures eased 0.2 per cent to $4,363.60. Silver hovered near record highs, rising 0.1 per cent to $66.36 an ounce after touching $66.88 in the previous session, up 130 per cent year-to-date on strong industrial demand, steady investment interest, and tightening inventories. Analysts expect silver to test $70 per ounce next year if US rate cuts continue. Fed Governor Christopher Waller signalled the central bank could continue cutting rates amid a cooling labour market, supporting gold and silver. The US unemployment rate rose to 4.6 per cent in November, above forecasts, while the Fed recently delivered its third and final quarter-point rate cut of the year, with markets now pricing in two further cuts in 2026. Platinum surged 4 per cent to $1,973.91, a 17-year high, and palladium rose 2.4 per cent to $1,687.39, a near three-year high. Attribution: Reuters
