Gold gains, silver dips from record highs; Fed rate cut hopes loom

• Gold prices edged up due to a weaker US dollar, while silver eased after reaching an all-time high last week.
• Markets are anticipating the US Federal Reserve's policy decision, with an 88% probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut.
• Spot gold gained 0.3% to $4,212.70 per ounce; silver slipped 0.4% to $58.06 per ounce after hitting a record $59.32.
• Silver's strong performance this year is attributed to tightening supply, robust investor interest, and rising industrial consumption.
• Analysts suggest bullion's near-term direction will depend on the Fed's communication, with gold as a hedge and silver potentially outperforming.

Why It Matters: Anticipated Fed rate cuts are moving gold and silver, impacting investor portfolios.