Gold Gets Boost from Fed

Gold charged to a two-month high this week, fueled by help from the Federal Reserve.

Gold's rally started shortly after Fed chair Janet Yellen indicated that the Fed was likely to continue holding interest rates near record lows. Some market watchers had been expecting the Fed to start raising rates soon to head off inflationary risk.

While the US is not experiencing rapid inflation at this time, there are increasing concerns that the large-scale monetary stimulus and low interest rates could lead to higher inflation levels in the coming months. In an inflationary environment, the US dollar loses its value relative to other assets, like gold, which investors bought aggressively after Yellen's speech Wednesday.

Meanwhile, ongoing military conflicts in Ukraine and Iraq threaten global stability, which can encourage some investors to hold gold in lieu of other investments. Furthermore, when prices broke over $1300 per ounce, more buyers flocked to the market, pushing prices higher yet.

By midday Friday, gold had clamored to $1317 per ounce, giving gold its best week since early March.

Gasoline Market Turbocharged

Gasoline prices hit an eleven-month high this week, gaining over seven cents per gallon. The primary driver behind the rally has been the deepening conflict in Iraq, which caused the international price of crude oil to rally again this week, topping out over $115 per barrel. Domestic crude oil prices have been partially sheltered from the conflict, trading Friday near $106, but many US refineries purchase oil based on global prices, meaning that international conflicts can fuel a jump in prices at the pump.

On midday Friday, gasoline futures were trading for $3.09 per gallon, a price that represents wholesale value, without taxes or other charges included.

Cattle Go for Wild Ride

Cattle prices gyrated wildly this week, hitting exchange-designated daily limits twice as traders prepared for the USDA's monthly Cattle on Feed report, which is released on Friday after the market closes. The report was expected to show a moderately shrinking national herd during the month of May, but any significant deviations could cause more fireworks when the market reopens on Monday morning.

Most cattle contracts finished lower on the week, with August feeder cattle trading Friday for $2.06 per pound, while August live (fed) cattle were worth $1.46.