- US Nonfarm Payrolls exceeded estimates of 200K, while the unemployment rate edged lower.
- Average Hourly Earnings were lower than the 5% foreseen, signaling the absence of a wage spiral.
- Gold Price Forecast: To find solid resistance around $1,852-$1,860.
Gold price extends its gains after the US Nonfarm Payrolls showed the US economy added more jobs than estimates while the rate of unemployed Americans edged lower. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades volatile around the $1,837-$1,844 range.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that December’s Nonfarm Payrolls rose by 223K above the 200K estimates, signaling the robustness of the labor market and justifying the need for further Federal Reserve (Fed) action. In the meantime, the Unemployment Rate tumbled to 3.5%, while Average Hourly Earnings dropped to 4.6% YoY, vs. estimates of 5%.
Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index is almost flat around 105.223, while the US 10-year Treasury bond yield is unchanged at 3.72%, a reason for Gold to continue extending its gains.
XAU/USD’s reaction
XAU/USD 1-hour chart broke higher on the release, towards $1,843.75, and quickly stabilized just shy of the daily pivot point at around $1,838.85. On the upside, XAU/USD was capped by the 50-EMA around $1,840, though it remains trading volatile as investors assess the overall US jobs market.
On the upside, the next resistance would be the R1 daily pivot point at around $1,852.67, followed by the January 5 daily high of $1,859.03. As an alternate scenario, the XAU/USD first support would be the pivot point around $1,838.85, followed by the 200-ENA at $1,828.68, followed by January’s 5 daily low of $1,825.04 and the S1 pivot level at $1,818.68.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD accelerates losses to 1.0930 on stronger Dollar
The US Dollar's recovery regains extra impulse sending the US Dollar Index to fresh highs and relegating EUR/USD to navigate the area of daily troughs around 1.0930 in the latter part of Friday's session.
GBP/USD plummets to four-week lows near 1.2850
The US Dollar's rebound keep gathering steam and now sends GBP/USD to the area of multi-week lows in the 1.2850 region amid the broad-based pullback in the risk-associated universe.
Gold trades on the back foot, flirts with $3,000
Gold prices are accelerating their daily decline, steadily approaching the critical $3,000 per troy ounce mark as the Greenback's rebound gains extra momentum and US yields tighten their retracement.
Can Maker break $1,450 hurdle as whales launch buying spree?
Maker holds steadily above $1,250 support as a whale scoops $1.21 million worth of MKR. Addresses with a 100k to 1 million MKR balance now account for 24.27% of Maker’s total supply. Maker battles a bear flag pattern as bulls gather for an epic weekend move.
Strategic implications of “Liberation Day”
Liberation Day in the United States came with extremely protectionist and inward-looking tariff policy aimed at just about all U.S. trading partners. In this report, we outline some of the more strategic implications of Liberation Day and developments we will be paying close attention to going forward.
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.