Gold eases on its gains as markets digest Trump's auto tariffs

Gold price has rallie over 1.00% at one point on Thursday after fresh tariff comments.
Trump issed a proclamation to implement 25% tariffs on auto imports ahead of reciprocal Tuesday.
Gold traders nearly tested the all time high before fading a touch.

Filip Lagaart FXStreet

Gold price (XAU/USD) jumped higher on Thursday, gained over 1.00% at one point before fading back to $3,046 at the time of writing. The pop in the precious metal was infused by United States President Donald Trump, who issued fresh new tariffs. Trump signed a proclamation for a 25% tariff on auto imports on Wednesday. The squeeze in Gold prices accelerates just hours ahead of the US trading session on Thursday.

In addition, President Trump suggested that further and mounting tariffs can be imposed on the European Union and Canada if both territories work together to “do the US economy harm”. Trump threatened with more levies on lumber, semiconductors and pharmaceutical drugs. All these new unleashed tariffs, levies and threats make the market’s assessment on what will actually come on April 2nd and 3rd, with the already announced reciprocal tariffs very unclear and full of contradictions.

Daily digest market movers: Gold Fields in stuck in legal battle

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to implement a 25% tariff on auto imports and floated further duties on the EU and Canada, expanding the trade war and triggering threats of retaliation. “What we’re going to be doing is a 25% tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States,” Trump said at the White House on Wednesday as he pushed ahead with a program seeking to bring more manufacturing jobs to the US, Bloomberg reports.
Sibanye and Gold Fields are engaged in a high-stakes battle with the Rand West City Local Municipality over the valuations of the companies’ properties, setting off a tit-for-tat legal wrangle that has been raging for nearly a decade, according to an article on BusinessDay. Meanwhile, Gold Fields is still stuck in the acquisition bidding war with Australian miner Gold Road Resources.
Goldman Sachs ramped up its Gold price forecast to $3,300 by year-end, citing stronger-than-expected central bank demand and solid inflows into bullion-backed exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Gold Price Technical Analysis: Fading at the finish

With the tariff picture for April 2nd now becoming even less clear, it makes sense for traders to reside in a safe haven spot, which is Gold, helping the bullish trend to continue.

On the upside, the daily R1 resistance for XAU/USD comes in at $3,030 and already got broken earlier this Thursday. Further up, the R2 resistance at $3,040 is just below Friday’s high. This means this level is a heavy barrier before pointing to the current all-time high of $3,057.

On the downside, the intraday S1 support for Gold price stands at $3,010, preceding the $3,000 mark, which can be perceived as a bullish sign. That means the $3,000 mark is no longer exposed and has some circuit-breaking element beforehand to slow down any downmoves. Further down, the S2 support comes in at $3,001, which coincides with the $3,000 marker psychological level.

XAU/USD: Daily Chart

Interest rates FAQs

What are interest rates?

Interest rates are charged by financial institutions on loans to borrowers and are paid as interest to savers and depositors. They are influenced by base lending rates, which are set by central banks in response to changes in the economy. Central banks normally have a mandate to ensure price stability, which in most cases means targeting a core inflation rate of around 2%. If inflation falls below target the central bank may cut base lending rates, with a view to stimulating lending and boosting the economy. If inflation rises substantially above 2% it normally results in the central bank raising base lending rates in an attempt to lower inflation.

How do interest rates impact currencies?

Higher interest rates generally help strengthen a country’s currency as they make it a more attractive place for global investors to park their money.

How do interest rates influence the price of Gold?

Higher interest rates overall weigh on the price of Gold because they increase the opportunity cost of holding Gold instead of investing in an interest-bearing asset or placing cash in the bank. If interest rates are high that usually pushes up the price of the US Dollar (USD), and since Gold is priced in Dollars, this has the effect of lowering the price of Gold.

What is the Fed Funds rate?

The Fed funds rate is the overnight rate at which US banks lend to each other. It is the oft-quoted headline rate set by the Federal Reserve at its FOMC meetings. It is set as a range, for example 4.75%-5.00%, though the upper limit (in that case 5.00%) is the quoted figure. Market expectations for future Fed funds rate are tracked by the CME FedWatch tool, which shapes how many financial markets behave in anticipation of future Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.

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Author

Filip Lagaart

FXStreet

Filip Lagaart is a former sales/trader with over 15 years of financial markets expertise under its belt.

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