Gold prices pared earlier gains to hover around $4,165 per ounce on Friday, though the metal remained on track for a weekly advance of roughly 4%. The market continued to grapple with uncertainty stemming from a significant backlog of US economic data following the end of the longest government shutdown in the country’s history. Concerns have grown that several key releases, most notably October CPI and employment figures, may never be published if agencies are unable to finalize reports due to disrupted data collection. As a result, investors have scaled back expectations for Federal Reserve easing this year, with money markets assigning roughly a 50% probability to a December rate cut. Despite the uncertainty, bullion remains supported by ongoing central bank purchases and steady demand from investors seeking protection against fiscal risks.
