(Kitco News) -Gold prices are holding on to recent but seeing little reaction after the International Monetary Fund downgraded its economic forecast for the global economy.
In its latest growth forecasts, the IMF said that it sees the global economy growing 3.3% in 2019, down from its previous estimate of 3.5%. For the world's largest economy, the IMF said that it sees the U.S. growing by 2.3% this year, down from its previous forecast of 2.5%.
Analysts mostly expected the downgrade, so there has been muted reaction within financial markets. Gold prices are holding on to modest gains, trading near a one-week high in initial response to the economic data. June gold futures last traded at $1,308.80 an ounce, up 0.53% on the day.
The IMF said that although growth prospects are expecting to pick up in the second half of the year, risks are tilted to the downside because of growing geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing trade disputes.
"While the overall outlook remains benign, there are many downside risks. There is an uneasy truce on trade policy, as tensions could flare up again and play out in other areas (such as the auto industry) with large disruptions to global supply chains," the IMF said in its report.
The IMF also said high levels of public and private-sector debt could exacerbate the downside risks.
The outlook could be positive for gold prices. The IMF warned that further economic weakness could weigh on market sentiment.
"The potential remains for sharp deterioration in market sentiment, which would imply portfolio reallocations away from risk assets, wider spreads over safe-haven securities, and generally tighter financial conditions," the IMF said.
Adam Button, managing director at Forexlive.com, said that the latest IMF forecasts do not paint a pretty picture for investors.
"It was largely expected, but it's a reminder that the entire reversal in market sentiment was based on a turn in central banks, not a turn in the real economy," he said.
Looking at other domestic forecasts, the IMF said that it sees the Eurozone economy growing 1.3% this year, down from its previous estimate of 1.6%. Canada's economy is expected to grow 1.5%, down from the prior forecast of 1.9%.
The one bright spot in the IMF report is in China; the fund increased its 2019 forecast to 6.3%, up from its previous projection of 6.2%.
https://www.kitco.com/news/2019-04-09/Gold-Prices-Holding-Its-Ground-After-IMF-Downgrades-Global-Growth.html
2019-04-09 13:12:00Z
52780264997624
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Gold Prices Holding Its Ground After IMF Downgrades Global Growth - Kitco News"
Post a Comment