Gold prices hit all-time high as Fed rate-cut hopes bolster appeal

Gold prices rose more than 1 per cent to hit a record high on Thursday, helped by expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next week after U.S. data signalled a slowing of the economy.

Spot gold was up 1.6 per cent at $2,551.19 per ounce, as of 9.46am ET (1346 GMT) while U.S. gold futures were up 1.4 per cent at $2,578.90.

The U.S. Labour Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 230,000.

U.S. producer prices increased slightly more than expected in August amid higher costs for services, but the trend remained consistent with subsiding inflation.

"We are headed towards a lower interest rate environment so gold is becoming a lot more attractive... I think we could potentially have a lot more frequent cuts as opposed to a bigger magnitude," said Alex Ebkarian, chief operating officer at Allegiance Gold.

Markets are currently pricing in an 87 per cent chance of a 25-basis-point U.S. rate cut at the Fed's Sept. 17-18 meeting, and a 13 per cent chance of a 50-bps cut, the CME FedWatch tool showed.

Zero-yield bullion tends to be a preferred investment amid lower interest rates.

"The labour market is continuing to falter and if the labour market deteriorates, the journey that they'll embark on in cutting rates is going to go for an extended period of time," said Phillip Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures.

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