By Brijesh Patel
March 18 (Reuters) – Gold prices slipped on Monday as the dollar held firm and investors braced for a slew of policy decisions from major global central banks including the U.S. Federal Reserve this week.
Spot gold XAU=was down 0.4% to $2,147.89 per ounce, as of 0259 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 fell 0.5% to $2,151.30.
“A fairly hawkish outcome from the Fed has been baked in… it shows a fairly strong consensus that there might only be one or two cuts this year,” said Kyle Rodda, a financial market analyst at Capital.com.
The Fed is considered certain to keep rates at 5.25%-5.5% at the end of its two-day meeting on Wednesday. But there is a possibility that the Fed might signal a higher-for-longer outlook on policy given the stickiness of inflation at both a consumer and producer level.
Traders are now pricing in an about 56% chance of a rate cut in June. FEDWATCH Higher interest rates reduce the appeal of holding non-yielding gold.
Last week, data showed that U.S. consumer prices increased solidly in February and producer prices rose more than expected amid a surge in the cost of goods like gasoline and food.
“If we get a less hawkish outcome from the Fed, there’s every reason that we will see a weaker dollar, lower yields, and that could just fuel a rally and provide some fundamental impetus and then you are looking at $2,200 levels,” said Rodda.
The dollar=USD held steady near a two-week high against its rivals, making gold more expensive for other currency holders. USD/
Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is expected to exit its ultra-dovish monetary policy at its two-day meeting ending on Tuesday. The Bank of England will hold its meeting on Thursday and is expected to stay put on rates.
Spot platinum XPT=eased 0.1% to $932.45 per ounce, palladium XPD=was steady at $1,077.25, and silver XAG=dipped 0.6% to $25.01.
(Reporting by Brijesh Patel and Harshit Verma in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
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