Gold prices dropped on Wednesday as the dollar held firm, while investors waited on the outcome of the Federal Reserve's meeting later in the day when policymakers are expected to cut interest rates. Spot gold was down 0.2% at $1,427.92 per ounce as of 0417 GMT. U.S. gold futures edged 0.1% lower to $1,440.50 an ounce. "Most of the people are staying on the sidelines due to the Fed meeting. If the Fed does reduce rates, gold may come down a little as a 25 basis point cut is already priced-in," said Brian Lan, managing director at dealer GoldSilver Central in Singapore. "We are also looking at whether there will be further rate cuts. Over the longer term we are still bullish on gold but in the short-term we might see a bit of correction before it continues to move higher." Lan added. Fed funds rate futures are now fully pricing in a 25 basis point rate cut on Wednesday and another 25 basis point reduction by September. Markets will be watching out for guidance on whether the Federal Open Market Committee's expected move is a one-time cut or the beginning of a rate-cutting cycle. Cementing expectations of Fed rate cuts, U.S. consumer spending and prices rose moderately in June, pointing to slower economic growth and benign inflation. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, reiterated his call for the Fed to make a large interest rate cut, saying he was disappointed in the U.S. central bank and that it had put him at a disadvantage by not acting sooner. "Gold will look for direction in the tone of the Fed Chief's rhetoric. More dovish could lead to a weaker dollar and a higher price for gold," Alfonso Esparza, a senior market analyst at OANDA, said in a note. Meanwhile, the dollar index was relatively unchanged against a basket of major currencies on Wednesday after hitting a two-month high in the previous session. In financial markets, fresh trade concerns following threats by Trump to Beijing sent Asian shares to a six-week trough on Wednesday. Trump warned China against waiting out his presidency before finalizing a trade deal, saying if he wins re-election in November 2020, the outcome could be no agreement or a harsher one. Among other precious metals, silver fell 0.6% to $16.48 per ounce. Platinum jumped 1.2% to $875.95 an ounce and palladium rose 0.7% to $1,525.52. Source: Reuters
