On Thursday, gold-backed ETP holdings rose by 3.9 metric tons, the most since Feb. 23, to 1,620.1 tons, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust, the top bullion ETP, had the biggest jump in two months.
Gold futures had a fourth straight weekly increase, the longest rally since July, as investors assess economic data to determine when the Federal Reserve is likely to boost borrowing costs. Higher rates curb bullion’s appeal because it only offers returns through price gains. A government report last week showed U.S. hiring cooled, giving support to the view that the Fed will delay increases.
Gold futures for June delivery increased 0.9 percent to settle at $1,204.60 an ounce at 1:46 p.m. on the Comex in New York. The metal fell 2.1 percent in the prior three sessions.
ETP holdings increased by 21.7 tons so far this year after declining 164.4 tons in 2014, a second annual drop. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, a gauge of the greenback’s strength against 10 major counterparts, climbed a second day, gaining 0.2 percent. Bullion typically moves inversely to the U.S. currency.
Silver futures for May delivery rose 1.3 percent to $16.382 an ounce on the Comex. Holdings in silver-backed ETPs gained 4.7 tons on Thursday.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, palladium futures for June delivery advanced 1.8 percent to $776.05 an ounce. Platinum for July delivery gained 1.2 percent to $1,170.60 an ounce.
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