A release of strong jobs reports in the US failed to keep gold at lower levels this week. After falling sharply to a weekly low just below $3,250, gold began to climb back up. Geopolitical risks and concerns over US government debt retained their influence and drove the yellow metal's prices higher, despite investors' renewed appetite for risk.
Meanwhile, the latest Kitco News weekly gold survey showed a divergence in assessments of gold's prospects among analysts and retail investors. Industry experts have varying opinions, while retail traders are reinforcing their bullish sentiment.
This week, Kitco News Gold Survey of experts involved fourteen analysts. The results have shown a relatively neutral stance of Wall Street. Five experts, or 36%, predict gold prices will rise in the coming week. Four analysts, or 28%, expect the prices to decline. The remaining five analysts, or 36%, expect the precious metal's value to remain within the current range.
Meanwhile, retail investors surveyed by Kitco were more optimistic. 59% of them expect gold prices to rise.