Gold holds gains as U.S. jobless claims drop to 206,000
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U.S. initial jobless claims fell to 206,000, signaling fewer layoffs Based on data from the u.S. Department of Labor, initial jobless claims were 206,000 for the week ending February 14, lower than expected. The reading points to fewer layoffs and ongoing labor‑market resilience. Employers appear to be retaining workers despite slower hiring. Because weekly filings can swing with seasonal factors, broader trend measures help clarify the signal. Why this claims reading matters for labor-market resilience and inflation As reported by RTTNews, initial claims decreased by 23,000 to 206,000, while the four‑week moving average edged down to about 219,000. Together, these figures suggest stability beyond week‑to‑week noise. Economists characterize this as steadiness rather than reacceleration. “The drop in claims ‘back toward 200,000’ fits with signals that labor market conditions are stabilizing,” said Michael Pearce, Chief U.S. Economist at Oxford Economics. according to AP News, continuing claims rose by roughly 17,000 to around 1.87 million, indicating some friction for job seekers without signaling broad deterioration. Monitoring any persistent rise will be important. MarketWatch notes recent federal reserve meeting minutes anticipate activity strengthening with unemployment gradually easing, but inflation concerns still loom. That mix reduces urgency for rapid rate cuts. BingX: a trusted exchange delivering real advantages for traders at every level. The 206,000 print lowers near‑term recession risk by underscoring limited layoffs, which can support consumption. It also implies wage pressures may cool only gradually, keeping the inflation fight unresolved. For policy, a resilient labor backdrop favors a wait‑and‑see approach until disinflation is clearer across categories. A sustained uptrend in claims would likely be more persuasive for earlier easing. In markets, stronger labor data can firm Treasury yields and the dollar while mixed signals can leave gold steady; recent coverage from Kitco News noted gold holding gains alongside better‑than‑expected data. At the…
Filed under: News - @ February 19, 2026 5:30 pm