LONDON: Gold jumped to two-week highs above $1,480 an ounce on Friday, heading for its second straight weekly gain, as the dollar fell ahead of US nonfarm payrolls report, scheduled for 1230 GMT. Sentiment had improved after a cut in interest rates by the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve's decision to stick to its stimulus programme. Spot gold rose as much as 1.5 per cent to its highest level since April 15 at $1,485.86 an ounce. It stood at $1,485.74 by 1029 GMT, still up 1.3 per cent. The metal broke strong chart resistance at $1,480, which may trigger further short-term strength, traders said. US gold for June delivery rose to a session high of $1,487.20 an ounce and was then at $1,485.90, up 1.3 per cent. "Gold gained some strength after the central banks' meetings and is now benefiting from the weaker dollar," Danske Bank analyst Christin Tuxen said. "A lower-than expected nonfarm payrolls reading may lead to speculation that the Fed may have the exit from QE postponed further into the future, and that should be also a positive for gold because it means that there is going to be a lot more liquidity around and maybe some more dollar weakness." The dollar fell against a basket of currencies as investors focused on whether a jobs report will add to concerns about the US economy and boost bets on more monetary easing. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the April US nonfarm payrolls report to show American employers hired 145,000 people last month, up from March's dismal pace of 88,000. Employment data in Europe and the United States are likely to be closely scrutinised in coming weeks for more clues on the longer-term prospects for the Fed's monetary stimulus. "There will be a lot of focus on macroeconomic data in the coming weeks and months, especially on employment, indicators of price pressures and the impact of fiscal policy on growth," UBS analyst Joni Teves said in a note. The ECB cut its main interest rate by 25 basis points to a record low of 0.50 per cent on Thursday, its first change for 10 months, after inflation fell well below the bank's target and weak economic surveys increased doubts about a recovery. The decision came a day after the US Fed's recommitment to its aggressive stimulus programme, and a month after the Bank of Japan stunned markets by promising to inject about $1.4 trillion into its economy to spur growth. Easy monetary policy extended gold's bull run to a 12th consecutive year last year, as investors bought bullion to hedge against inflation and economic uncertainties. But inflation readings were lower recently and are not likely to show changes in coming months, analysts said. "The fact that there is no such thing as hyperinflation scenario for at least the western countries and is more or less on people's radar even though we have quantitative easing policies and that's why we think gold will suffer in the medium term," Tuxen said.

Source