On Monday, gold prices rose as traders evaluated conflicting signals on the US economy and awaited comments from several Federal Reserve speakers to gain insight into the future of interest rates. Despite last week’s weaker-than-expected US jobs report, which contributed to concerns about high inflation and sluggish growth, the precious metal saw an increase of up to 1.3%, rebounding from its first consecutive weekly declines since February. Trading volumes were lower than usual due to holidays in the UK and Japan.

Inflation remains persistent, limiting the actions the US central bank can take and keeping bond yields in their recent ranges. Some swap traders are cautiously increasing their bets on policy easing this year, while gold investors are boosting their bids in anticipation of sustained high inflation. Gold has risen by more than 12% this year amidst a backdrop of inflation and uncertainty surrounding potential rate cuts by the US central bank.

The metal experienced a record-breaking rally in April, reaching consecutive all-time highs driven by strong central bank purchases, demand from Asian markets, and safe-haven buying amid conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Recent developments in the Middle East suggest a decreased likelihood of full-blown conflict, although tensions persist. The Israeli military’s evacuation warnings in parts of Rafah also indicate ongoing concerns. Gold prices are currently at $2,324.97 an ounce, with other precious metals like silver, palladium, and platinum also seeing gains. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index has slightly decreased as markets continue to monitor economic indicators and geopolitical developments for potential shifts in gold prices.