Overview
- The Labor Department reported payrolls rose by 162,000 with the unemployment rate steady at 4.1 percent and revisions adding 31,000 jobs to June and 21,000 to July.
- Average hourly earnings increased 0.3 percent month over month and 3.1 percent year over year, a pace that keeps inflation concerns on the table.
- Treasury yields climbed and the U.S. dollar strengthened after the report, driving spot gold down to around or below $4,400 per ounce.
- Brent crude trading near $97 a barrel and reported Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz add upside inflation risk that could offset some of gold’s rate-driven losses.
- Producer and consumer price reports due later this week are the key near-term tests that could either reinforce higher rate odds and pressure gold further or send prices back up if inflation surprises lower.