WS News
07 Aug 2026, 06:27
Gold Jumps More Than 1% as U.S. Labor Data and Hormuz Risks Support Prices
Gold prices climbed sharply on Friday, with December futures rising about 1.2% to around $4,349 per ounce, extending a strong weekly advance as investors assessed softer elements of U.S. labor data alongside renewed uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Labor Data Supports Gold
Thursday’s U.S. data offered a mixed picture. Initial jobless claims came in at 199,000, below the 203,000 expected and only slightly above the previous week’s 198,000, indicating that layoffs remain low. However, continuing claims increased to 1.801 million from 1.777 million, exceeding the 1.790 million forecast. The rise suggests unemployed workers may be taking longer to find new jobs. Official Labor Department data confirmed the increase in both initial and continuing claims.
Another supportive factor for gold was unit labor costs. Second-quarter labor costs increased only 1.3%, well below the 2.2% expected. Softer labor-cost growth reduces one source of inflation pressure and could give the Federal Reserve more flexibility on monetary policy.
Gold has already benefited this week from declining Treasury yields and weaker employment indicators, with Reuters reporting that the metal reached a seven-week high as lower yields increased the appeal of non-yielding bullion.
Hormuz Adds Another Layer of Support
Geopolitical uncertainty is also back in focus. Iran’s proposed restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have raised doubts about a quick normalization of traffic through the critical energy route. The resulting uncertainty is supporting demand for defensive assets, although higher oil prices could eventually complicate the picture by increasing inflation expectations.
For now, the combination of softer labor-cost pressures, rising continuing unemployment claims, lower yields and renewed Middle East uncertainty is providing a favorable backdrop for gold.
Gold prices climbed sharply on Friday, with December futures rising about 1.2% to around $4,349 per ounce, extending a strong weekly advance as investors assessed softer elements of U.S. labor data alongside renewed uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Labor Data Supports Gold
Thursday’s U.S. data offered a mixed picture. Initial jobless claims came in at 199,000, below the 203,000 expected and only slightly above the previous week’s 198,000, indicating that layoffs remain low. However, continuing claims increased to 1.801 million from 1.777 million, exceeding the 1.790 million forecast. The rise suggests unemployed workers may be taking longer to find new jobs. Official Labor Department data confirmed the increase in both initial and continuing claims.
Another supportive factor for gold was unit labor costs. Second-quarter labor costs increased only 1.3%, well below the 2.2% expected. Softer labor-cost growth reduces one source of inflation pressure and could give the Federal Reserve more flexibility on monetary policy.
Gold has already benefited this week from declining Treasury yields and weaker employment indicators, with Reuters reporting that the metal reached a seven-week high as lower yields increased the appeal of non-yielding bullion.
Hormuz Adds Another Layer of Support
Geopolitical uncertainty is also back in focus. Iran’s proposed restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have raised doubts about a quick normalization of traffic through the critical energy route. The resulting uncertainty is supporting demand for defensive assets, although higher oil prices could eventually complicate the picture by increasing inflation expectations.
For now, the combination of softer labor-cost pressures, rising continuing unemployment claims, lower yields and renewed Middle East uncertainty is providing a favorable backdrop for gold.
