Gold held a decline — but remained near an all-time high — as traders weighed positive US economic data and divergent views by Federal Reserve officials this week that clouded the path for interest-rate cuts.
Bullion edged up to near $3,745 an ounce — less than $50 shy of a record set on Tuesday. Prices fell on Wednesday after data showed new-home sales in the US unexpectedly surged in August to the fastest pace since early 2022, easing some concerns about a slowdown in the world’s biggest economy. The dollar rose to the highest in almost two weeks, making gold more expensive for most buyers.