Technical Analysis

Gold price carried forward the upward momentum from the breaking of 2480 in the previous week, hitting a fresh record high of 2531 early last week. But the buying has reversed after the Fed. Meeting minutes were released during the US session on Wednesday. The price fell to the lowest of the week at 2470, and the week ended at 2510. There was no important US economic data last week, and Powell’s speech scheduled on Friday has controlled the market’s overall movement during the week. Although the final remarks were dovish, the market had already priced in the 0.25% rate cut in September, and in the absence of any new progress failed to stimulate the gold price to rise higher. In the next two weeks until the Fed meeting in mid-September, unless those economic figures during this period can drive the market to speculate on the half-percent interest rate cut in September, the rate-cutting factor will no longer be able to push up the gold price significantly in the short term. This week, pay attention to the US 2Q GDP on Thursday and the PCE price indexes on Friday.

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1-hour chart(above) > The upward trend has slowed down to (1.1) after the gold price escaped channel(1). The current S-T resistance is at 2520-30(2). The range bound of 2480-2510 3) can be used as the operating range at the beginning of this week, until the next breakout

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Daily Chart(above) > It will be the first sign for gold prices to break upward if it one day closes above 2513 on the daily chart. 2480 is the key support at the downside.

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The spot gold price went up during the week but fell after Friday’s US non-farm payroll report. Looking back at last week, the price broke through the 2400 resistance before the Fed—meeting on Wed. The price kept on rising after Powell’s dovish speech, and tensions rose in the Middle East as Iran’s leader ordered attacks on Israel in response to the assassination of a Hamas leader. The US released weaker-than-expected job data on Fri., causing gold prices to hit a weekly high and rechallenge the historical peak 2480. However, the market quickly focused on concerns that the US economy might enter a recession. US stocks rapidly fell from their highs, dragging gold prices down to a daily low of 2410, closing the week at 2442.

According to CME FedWatch, the latest interest rate futures indicate that the probability of a 50 basis point rate cut in September increased from 22% on Thursday to 95% early in the Monday Asian session. Whether in the gold or stock markets, a rate cut should boost the market. However, despite reaching twice above 2450 in the past month, the spot gold price didn’t have any significant new long-buying position above 2450 but profit-taking and new short-selling positions. The market now broadly expects the first rate cut to happen in September. As the first rate cut approaches, it is almost time for investors who entered long for the ‘rate cut’ concept at the beginning of the year to plan their exit. ‘Buy on the rumour, sell on the news’ ~ gold prices may still hit a new high before September, but expect a significant correction around the first rate cut!

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1-hour Chart > The price still runs within the upward wedge(2). In the S-T, gold prices are supported by the trendline(2.1). If this support is broken, a significant correction may occur, with a target of 2400. Currently, the range of 2450-53 is acting as an S-T resistance zone, while stronger resistance is expected at 2478-80.

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Daily Chart > No major economic data are expected to be released this week, and gold prices are unlikely to break high. The initial expectation is to work within the range of 2410-80 established last Friday.

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Entering a consolidation cycle after gold failed to stay above 2450.
Gold price broke through the previous historical high of 2450(1) early last week on Tuesday, triggering a round of buying and rising to a weekly high of 2483 within 24 hours. However, the upward momentum failed to carry on at a high level. According to the market data from CME, gold futures showed significant new short positions entering the market on Wednesday. Short-selling accelerated after the U.S. released manufacturing data on Thursday, when the price fell below the key support of 2450(2), and the market closed near 2400 before the weekend. After the false break above 2450, it will be hard for gold to return back above 2450 in the near term without any consolidation. This week, focus on Thursday and Friday’s U.S. GDP and the core inflation data.

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1-hr chart > Gold price supports the previous week’s low of 2390-2400. Before the next move, take advantage of the 2391-2440(3) range early this week. If the gold price breaks below 2385(4), the downside target will be 2350(5).

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Daily chart > The decline in gold prices is accelerating, with a single-day drop of more than $40 on Friday. The short-term support is at 2400(7), and the lower target can grasp the 20-day moving average.

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Weekly chart > Gold prices are on a L-T upward trend that originated from 2018. Last week’s peak has created a reversal signal on the chart (10). The target below can now be aimed at the bottom of the range 2300 (11).

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The gold price was stimulated by the easing inflation data from the US last week, breaking through the post-non-farm resistance of 2391(2) and touching a four-week high of 2424. Referring to CME gold futures’ data, the total number of Open Interest last Friday reached the highest level of 540k contracts, which is above the 530k contracts at the time of the record high of 2450 in May, a bullish sign as more funds are now attracted by the gold market. Not many important economic figures are scheduled to be released this week. Let’s see if the price can stay above 2391 this week. The longer the price remains at around 2400, the more investors will be ready for a new high.

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1-hr Chart > The price of gold is still running in the ascending channel (1), originating from the end of June. After breaking through the resistance (2) last Thur, the high and low in the past 48 hours have formed a side-way channel (3). Without any critical economic data this week, we can take advantage of the 2319-2425(3) range at the beginning of this week. It must be noted that a new round of selling will trigger if the price clears the support of 2391(2), and the downside target can be set around 2358-60(4).

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Daily Chart > The range of 2277-2431(7) now dominates as the price trades above 2380. The Cup & Handle (6) pattern is yet to be confirmed. If the gold price can clear the resistance (6) in the next two weeks, a new round of M-T buying will begin.

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Gold price experienced the largest single-day decline in recent months last Friday, downed by $82. The price stayed within the range of 2320-2360(1) early last week until Wednesday after a disappointing ADP employment figure was released. It cleared the resistance(2) in the Asian session on Thursday. The breakout triggered a new round of buying, resulting in a weekly high of 2387(3) within 24 hours. However, the gold price started selling at the European session on Friday, again back into the previous sideways range(1). After the release of US employment data that evening, the price fell below 2320(5) and touched our target of 2300, closing at the weekly low near 2286.

As mentioned last week, the gold market is in a profit-taking cycle. The latest data from the COMEX gold futures shows that the open interest continues to decline, at 440,000 contracts now. This is about 90,000 contracts less than the peak when gold prices reached a historical high a few weeks back. This indicates that the long buying is still on the limited side, and there is still room for further decline. The key events this week are the US inflation data and the FOMC meeting on Wednesday. Take advantage of a range-bound market while investors are waiting for these economic figures at the beginning of the week. From the M-T perspective, gold prices are still in the phase of consolidation. It will be a good chance to short-sell the market if the high level of uncertainty this week leads to a jump in gold prices.

1-hr chart > The key support level is at the previous low of 2280-2285(6). Expect the price to be bounded within the range of 2280-2320(7), while the market is waiting for Wednesday’s news. A new round of selling will be triggered if the price breaks through the support zone(6).

Daily Chart > Gold cleared the ascending channel(9) last week. The closing near the weekly low on Friday indicates that the selling is still dominating the market, and the price might have another attempt to the low in the next 2 days. In S-T, support lies at the previous low of 2277 (10). If there is a successful breakthrough below 2277(10) later this week, the first target can be set at the 50% retracement level around 2216(11).

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Gold has started its rebound after a series of important U.S. economic data went worse than expected since the beginning of this month, and the US inflation data slowed further last week has accelerated the upward momentum. The price rose to a one-month high of 2422 on Friday, with the week ending near 2414. Note that the price of silver also broke through the 2020 high of US$30 on the same day, reflecting that the precious metals market is strengthening and the bullish trend should resume very soon.

1-hr chart – The upward trend accelerated last week from the support line (1) to (1.1). Gold cleared all the short-selling orders near the previous high of 2430 early in the Asian session on Monday reaching a new high of 2440. While the resistance of 2430(2) is cleared, a new round of buying should be triggered in the next 48 hours, and the target in the early part of this week can be set at 2450 or even higher. Notice, the key support is now at 2430. If the gold price returns below 2430, the current upward momentum will slow down, and the trend will reverse.

Daily Chart—Last Friday was the first time gold prices closed above 2400, showing that buying orders above 2400 are starting to dominate, the first signal for gold prices to break higher. Gold fluctuated by about US$150 during the consolidation period in the past month(3). The M-T target can be set near 2580(3), a 1:1: ratio. As long as the price stays above 2431 on the daily chart, the S-T target can be set at 2448.

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Gold tested the 2280 support 3x last week, with the lowest hitting a 4-week low of 2277. The gold price held on to the 2280 support following a relatively neutral Powell’s Fed announcement and weak US employment data. Since the price has bottomed out near the end of last week, expect the gold price to initiate a rebound in S-T.

1-Hr Chart – The gold price has rebounded quickly each time after it touched the 2280(4) support last week, showing strong buying near the 2280-5(4) level. The downward trend that originated on Apr 20 has ended after the price broke out from the downward resistance line(1) in the early Asian session back from the weekend. The S-T target can be set at 2328(2). There is no important economic data scheduled to be released this week, so once the gold price clears the resistance at 2328(2) later this week, the next target can be set at 2350(3).

Daily Chart – The gold price has not been able to stay below 2300(7) for more than one day, reflecting the strong buying support below 2300. We can operate the 10-day MA(5) and the 20-day MA(6), taking advantage of the 2280-2355(8) range in S-T. Based on the current market conditions, I believe the gold price needs more news stimulation for it to escape the 2280-2355(8) range.

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Gold fell to a 2-week low of 2391 at the beginning of last week, but buying has resumed after a weaker-than-expected US GDP Q1 data, leading the price to reach 2352 before the US session on Friday. There were no surprises in the release of the U.S. inflation figures on that day; therefore, the market was relatively quiet before the weekend. Two major U.S. economic news are expected this week: the Fed. meeting on May 1st and the U.S. employment figures on Friday. As geopolitical risks in the Middle East fade out, the U.S. interest rate trend will now become the focal point of gold traders. According to CME FedWatch, 99.5% of the chances that the Fed. will keep interest rates unchanged this week (Unchanged – 97% in June / Unchanged – 68% in July). Expect the market to stay in a tight range before the Fed. meeting. If the Fed. announcement leans toward a more hawkish tone, just like Powell’s speech 2 weeks back; some more selling momentum will add to the gold price.

1-Hr Chart—Gold prices broke out from the S-T uptrend channel(1.1) in the Asian session early Monday. As the price escape channel(1), the upward momentum is now slowing down. Take advantage of the 2318-55(2) range in S-T until the Fed. meeting. If gold prices fall below the 2318-28 support zone earlier than expected, the next support level will be at 2300, and the descending channel (3) will dominate the trend for the rest of the week.

Daily Chart – The price fell back below the 20-day MA(5) after the rejection of the 10-day MA(4) last Friday, and the short-selling pressure has been increasing since then. The Fed announcement should dominate the gold price trend in the coming weeks; be patient with the news and the breakout caused by it. Before the next major move, trade the 2290-2351(6) range. If gold prices fall further, the next target will be near 2260(7).

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The rapid retraction from the new high suggests the gold price has entered a short-term correction period.

Gold reached a new all-time high of 2431 last Friday after the US market opened, but the price quickly retreated. It lost key support of 2400 and 2380, falling back to the bottom support of Thursday near 2330, ending the weekly at 2343 with a slight increase of 13 dollars. The market had been anticipating retaliatory actions from Iran following the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria, creating a relatively tense environment that led to the climb in gold prices in the past two weeks. There was noticeable profit-taking in the market, coincidentally 24 hours before Iran’s retaliation. After the long-awaited Iran’s retaliatory action, the risk sentiment decreased abruptly; although gold opened with a gap of around 10 dollars on Monday’s Asian session, the movement remained relatively calm. The S-T upward trend began to slow down after the rapid retracement on Friday. At this point, we can expect a range-bound consolidation to begin to form this week.

1-Hr Chart – The gold price has been steadily climbing along the upward trend channel(1) since it broke through the 2300 resistance at the night of the non-farm payroll at the beginning of the month. The price is still sitting within the upward channel(1). However, S-T resistance is expected around 2375-2380 after the market experienced significant volatility on Friday. For now, the trading range for this week can be set at around 2318-2380(2).

Daily Chart – After the reversal in gold price last Friday, there is a clear indication of a potential peak (3). As long as the closing price in the next two days remains below 2373 (4), a more noticeable correction is likely to occur. The initial target for this correction can be set around the 20-day moving average (5).

Monthly Chart – It is important to note that the gold price is approaching the upper boundaries of the long-term upward channels (6) and (7). For the upward trend to continue, the gold price must break through the resistance line at the top of the channels. Otherwise, a correction in the overall trend may be needed.

S-T ressitance 3

2380

S-T ressitance 2

2370-72

S-T ressitance 1

2365

Market price

2359

S-T support 1

2350-52

S-T support 2

2345

S-T support 3

2338-40

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Risk Disclosure: Gold Bullion/Silver (“Bullion”) trading carries a high degree of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. This article is for reference only and is not a solicitation or advice to trade any currencies and investment products . Before deciding to trade Bullion you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment or even more in extreme circumstances (such as Gapping underlying markets) and therefore, you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with trading Bullion, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you require. Client should not make investment decision solely based on the point of view and information on this article.  

Following the Fed meeting, gold reached a new all-time high of 2222 last week. However, it failed to stay above 2200 and retraced quickly below the previous high of 2195 within 24 hours. This Friday is a US holiday, but the inflation data(PCE price index) will still be released. Make sure you pay close attention to market volatility at the late Friday session and the early Monday Asian session, and exercise caution in managing risks.

1-hr chart – The price broke through the S-T resistance(1) last week and reached our target range of 2185-2190 (2). Although it subsequently reached a new high, the price is now falling back to 2147-90(3). The resistance zone of 2186-90(2) is still valid. Take advantage of the rebound driven by the newly formed upward channel(4) at the beginning of this week, and expect the price to be bound within 2147-90 (3) in S-T until another news breaks out.

Daily chart – After the quick pull-back after the Fed. Meeting last week, a reserval signal(5) has appeared. Unless the gold price can close above 2190 on the daily chart, an S-T consolidation period is likely to occur in the next two weeks. Again, 2147 is the key support level, once its clear the next support will be at the 20-day MA.

S-T ressitance 3

2190

S-T ressitance 2

2185

S-T ressitance 1

2180

Market price

2175

S-T support 1

2168

S-T support 2

2165

S-T support 3

2155

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Risk Disclosure: Gold Bullion/Silver (“Bullion”) trading carries a high degree of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. This article is for reference only and is not a solicitation or advice to trade any currencies and investment products . Before deciding to trade Bullion you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment or even more in extreme circumstances (such as Gapping underlying markets) and therefore, you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with trading Bullion, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you require. Client should not make investment decision solely based on the point of view and information on this article.