On February 11, local time, Jerome Powell, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, attended a hearing held by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsHis cautious remarks sent shockwaves through the previously buoyant gold and silver markets, leading to a notable decline in prices from their recent highs.

During the hearing, Powell made it clear that the Federal Reserve plans to complete its review of its framework before the end of summerNotably, this review will not focus on the 2% inflation target, which the Fed intends to maintainHe also highlighted that the current unemployment rate and conditions in the labor market do not present inflationary pressureConversely, he stressed that if the labor market unexpectedly weakens or inflation declines faster than anticipated, the Fed could ease its policiesOn the other hand, if economic performance remains strong and inflation fails to move towards the 2% target, the Fed may sustain its policy tightening for an extended periodCrucially, Powell explicitly stated that the Federal Reserve is in no rush to cut interest rates in the near term, indicating that the policy measures are prepared to address risks and uncertainties without needing immediate adjustments.

This stance acted like a bucket of cold water, dousing the market's earlier enthusiasm for a swift pivot to a more accommodative monetary policyThe markets have long been sensitive to the direction of the Fed’s monetary policy, particularly in the delicate balance between inflation and economic growth; even minor shifts can set off a cascade of reactionsPowell's cautious comments significantly cooled expectations for interest rate cuts within the current year.

Prior to his statements, amid economic and financial pressures, it was widely anticipated that the Fed would continue to trend towards easingThe probabilities for a rate cut in the second quarter had been gradually rising, serving as one of the key drivers for the persistent increase in gold and silver prices

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Gold prices soared, reaching an all-time high of $2968.5 an ounce for the April contract on COMEX on February 11. However, moments after Powell's remarks, the gold and silver markets swiftly reactedThe COMEX gold futures price plunged after reaching its peak, closing down 0.1% at $2932.6 an ounce; silver prices followed suit and also retreated.

From a deeper financial logic perspective, Powell’s comments influenced market expectations regarding real interest ratesGiven that gold is a non-yielding asset, its price exhibits an inverse relationship with real interest rates (nominal interest rates minus inflation). Powell’s cautiously optimistic stance reinforced market expectations for elevated interest rates, leading to rising yields on U.STreasuries, which subsequently bolstered the U.S. dollar index, effectively putting downward pressure on gold pricesAdditionally, as expectations for rate cuts cooled, the attractiveness of gold further diminishedInvestors who had initially bet on the Fed cutting rates in the first quarter of 2025 began to adjust their strategies, leading to a wave of profit-taking amongst long positions and exacerbating short-term selling pressure on gold.

While silver prices generally correlate with gold, they are also subject to their own unique factorsRecently, silver leasing rates surged above 6%, indicating a tightening condition in overseas physical silver marketsHowever, the macroeconomic impacts of Powell’s speech overshadowed these supportive factors, causing silver prices to also decline alongside gold.

Despite the short-term setbacks for gold and silver prices due to Powell’s remarks, the underlying factors supporting precious metals remain intactThe unclear prospects for global economic recovery, uncertainties in U.S. trade policies, and rising geopolitical risks contribute to sustained demand for gold as a safe havenWith a new U.S. administration expected to assume office in 2025, its series of policy measures, such as imposing tariffs, could further heighten market uncertainties, prompting investors to seek refuge in safe-haven assets; gold's strategic value continues to be evident

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