Gold price struggles to gain ground as traders await fresh catalysts


Most recent article: Gold slides on reduced have demand, better US data 

  • Gold price attracts some sellers, snapping the two-day-winning streak in Tuesday’s early European session.
  • Rising bets of a US rate cut this year and escalating geopolitical conflicts might cap the Gold’s downside. 
  • Investors will watch the US CB’s Consumer Confidence and Housing Price Index data, which are due on Tuesday. 

The Gold price (XAU/USD) trades in negative territory amid the modest recovery of the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday. Nonetheless, the signal from US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell at Jackson Hole to start cutting interest rates is likely to support the precious metal. Lower interest rates are generally positive for gold as they reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-interest-paying assets. Furthermore, the rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East might further boost Gold, a traditional safe-haven asset. 

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) halted gold purchases in July, marking the third straight month it did not acquire for reserves. Traders will watch the August data for fresh impetus. The concerns about the sluggish economy and the demand for precious metals in China could drag the price of gold down as China is the largest producer and consumer of gold worldwide. 

The US Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence for August and Housing Price Index for June are due on Tuesday. Later this week, the preliminary US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Annualized for the second quarter and Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) - Price Index data will be in the spotlight. 

Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold price loses traction, potential downside seems limited

  • US Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said early Tuesday that fears of a near-term broader Middle East conflict have ebbed after Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah exchanged fire without further escalation. Nonetheless, the US top General warned that “Iran still poses a significant danger as it weighs a strike on Israel,” per Reuters. 
  • Hamas rejects fresh Israeli conditions in ceasefire talks in Egypt and insists that Israel be bound by the terms of a proposal laid out by US President Joe Biden and the UN Security Council, per local news agency Aljazeera. 
  • Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly said that it’s appropriate for the Fed to begin cutting interest rates, adding that she doesn’t want to keep making policy tighter as inflation comes down. 
  • Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin noted that he will take a 'test and learn' approach to rate cuts. 
  • Fed Chair Powell said on Friday at the Kansas City Fed's annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, "The time has come for policy to adjust.”  Powell further stated that he was confident inflation was on its way towards the Fed’s 2% target.
  • The US Durable Goods Orders jumped to 9.9% MoM in July from a -6.9% contraction in June, stronger than the 4% increase expected. This figure registered the most significant gain since May 2020.
  • According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the markets have fully priced in a 25 basis points (bps) rate cut, while the possibility of a deeper rate cut stands at 30%, down from 36.5% last Friday.

Technical Analysis: Gold price’s broader bullish picture remains intact

Gold price edges lower on the day. The yellow metal remains capped under a five-month-old ascending channel upper boundary. Nonetheless, a broader bullish outlook prevails as the precious metal is well-supported above the key 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the daily chart. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) holds above the midline near 92.95, indicating sustained strength.

If Gold busts through the resistance areas and sustainably sees bullish candlesticks above the $2,530-$2,540 zone, the record high and the upper boundary of the trend channel, XAU/USD could make a play for the $2,600 psychological barrier. 

On the other hand, any follow-through selling below the low of August 22 at $2,470 could draw in more technical sellers and take the Gold down to the next support zone at $2,432, the low of August 15. The key contention level to watch is the $2,360-$2,370 zone, the lower limit of the trend channel and the 100-day EMA. 

US Dollar price in the last 7 days

The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies in the last 7 days. US Dollar was the weakest against the Swiss Franc.

  USD EUR GBP CAD AUD JPY NZD CHF
USD   -0.75% -1.55% -1.11% -0.73% -1.38% -1.67% -1.83%
EUR 0.73%   -0.80% -0.37% 0.00% -0.64% -0.92% -1.08%
GBP 1.53% 0.80%   0.43% 0.83% 0.17% -0.11% -0.26%
CAD 1.10% 0.36% -0.44%   0.38% -0.27% -0.56% -0.71%
AUD 0.72% -0.02% -0.84% -0.39%   -0.59% -0.93% -1.09%
JPY 1.36% 0.66% -0.25% 0.28% 0.64%   -0.28% -9942.48%
NZD 1.64% 0.91% 0.13% 0.55% 0.93% 0.42%   -0.15%
CHF 1.79% 1.07% 0.26% 0.70% 1.08% 0.44% 0.15%  

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/JPY (quote).

Gold FAQs

Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.

Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.

Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.

The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.

 

Share: Feed news

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


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD stays in tight range below 1.1200 after US data

EUR/USD stays in tight range below 1.1200 after US data

EUR/USD continues to fluctuate in a narrow band below 1.1200 in the second half of the day on Tuesday. The bearish opening in Wall Street and the upbeat consumer sentiment data from the US support the USD, limiting the pair's upside.

EUR/USD News
GBP/USD clings to daily gains above 1.3200

GBP/USD clings to daily gains above 1.3200

GBP/USD trades in positive territory above 1.3200 in the American session on Tuesday. The USD benefits from the cautious market mood and better-than-expected CB Consumer Confidence data, capping the pair's gains.

GBP/USD News
Gold holds comfortably above $2,500 despite rising US yields

Gold holds comfortably above $2,500 despite rising US yields

Gold holds steady above $2,500 in the second half of the day on Tuesday. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield gains 1% above 3.8% after upbeat US data, making it difficult for XAU/USD to gather bullish momentum.

Gold News
Markets in a waiting pattern with a potential explosion in volatility – Why?

Markets in a waiting pattern with a potential explosion in volatility – Why?

The weakness of the Dollar tok a breezer but might continue these coming days. il prices steadied further after the strong support level holds the price from falling further. Geopolitical tensions and the end of the month might call for more upside potential here.

Read more
Three fundamentals for the week: Focus on the fragility of the US economy

Three fundamentals for the week: Focus on the fragility of the US economy Premium

US Consumer confidence data will provide a gauge of how consumers are feeling. Jobless claims are in focus after Fed Chair Powell's dovish speech. Investors will look to the core PCE index to confirm that inflation is falling.

Read more
Moneta Markets review 2024: All you need to know

Moneta Markets review 2024: All you need to know

VERIFIED In this review, the FXStreet team provides an independent and thorough analysis based on direct testing and real experiences with Moneta Markets – an excellent broker for novice to intermediate forex traders who want to broaden their knowledge base.

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures