gold futures finished higher on monday giving up early gains after data showed that us businesses grew at a slower pace in may with federal reserve officials now in their prepolicy decision blackout for speaking in public “financial markets are left to focus on data alone and today’s ism survey reads very badly” said adrian ash director of research at bullionvault the institute for supply management’s index of serviceoriented businesses fell to 503 in may from 519 gold continues to “mirror both the dollar and expectations for fed interest rates very closely so the us services sector data has seen the precious metal reverse friday’s jobs data slump as betting that the fed will raise rates in two weeks’ time has evaporated” said ash gold for august delivery gcq23 climbed 470 or 02 to settle at 197430 an ounce on comex