Update: Gold price remains on the front foot near the four-month top, up 0.20% around $1,871, as European traders prepare for Tuesday’s bell. The gold buyers initially cheered a jump in the US Treasury yields to refresh multi-day high before recently respecting the downbeat US dollar. It should, however, be noted that the greenback bears await fresh clues and hence gold run-up stalls around the key resistance comprising late January tops. Behind the moves could be the mixed signals from the Fed and the US data, as well as the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine optimism. Additionally, cautious sentiment ahead of Wednesday’s FOMC might also probe gold bulls going forward.
Gold price is off the highs and slips below $1870 amid a bounce in the Treasury yields across the curve, which helps cap the US dollar’s decline. The gold price refreshed three-month highs at $1874 in the last hour, as the greenback continues to remain undermined by the expectations that the Fed will maintain interest rates lower for a longer period, especially after the weaker US Retail Sales report tamed concerns about rising inflation.
Further, gold received an additional boost after Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan on Monday reiterated his view that he does not expect rates to rise until next year. Meanwhile, mounting growing covid cases in Asia and escalating Middle East tensions keep the buoyant intact around the traditional safe-haven gold.
Read: Gold is surging again, but can prices push above 1900? [Video]
Read: Gold Forecast: XAU/USD bulls eye $1,850 after regaining control
At the time of writing, the gold price is trading a touch higher in Asia by some 0.13% in XAU/USD.
XAU/USD rose by 1.26% to $1,868.50 on Monday and has added a buck to reach a new cycle high of $1,869.71 on a cautious start to the week for global financial markets.
Overnight, global equities were under pressure with bond yields edging higher making for a Goldilocks scenario for gold as markets fret over the US inflation story following last week’s CPI beat.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve’s vice chairman Richard Clarida has said the Fed will respond to higher inflation should that be required, but he and others, including Fed’s chair, Jerome Powell, have constantly insisted that now is not the time to start taper talk while employment remains deep in a hole.
We will see the minutes on Wednesday from the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting last month.
Investors will be on the lookout for more meat on the bone in the policymakers’ outlook of an economic rebound and clues regarding their thinking about inflation spikes and the ongoing economic recovery.
Money managers increased net length
Meanwhile, analysts at TD Securities explained that money managers ultimately increased their net length as the disappointing non-farm print catalyzed a round of algorithmic short-covering, helping prices to break out north of the $1800/oz range.
”At the same time, we’ve noted that the composition of gold flows is changing, highlighting that discretionary capital could once again be flowing into gold, but rising ETF flows alongside money manager positioning have since lent strength to this view — particularly as the “transitory” debate surrounding inflation gathers share of mind.
Pick your poison, but the most plausible scenarios should all see gold prices ultimately firm.”
Gold forecast – Technical analysis
As per the prior analysis, Chart of the Week: Gold on the approach to $1,855, the price of gold has added to Friday’s bullish close.
Prior analysis, daily chart
‘From a daily perspective, the bulls are taking on the prior highs and closed Friday’s session strongly bid.
A run into the psychological $1,850 is on the cards with a -272% Fibo retracement of the prior correction coming in at $1,855.’
Live market, daily chart
Meanwhile, the -272% Fibo retracements of the prior correction coming in at $1,855 were cleared with ease.
In fact, we have seen a perfect touch of the -61.8% Fibo at the day’s highs.
A correction is the most probable scenario at this juncture revealing a 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level for the forthcoming sessions at $1,845.
In looking to the longer-term time frames, this also jives considering the market structure on the monthly chart as follows:
While an upside continuation is still a possibility, the monthly supply zone could be a tough nut for the bulls to crack straight away.
Additional reading:
Gold Weekly Forecast: XAU/USD bulls eye $1,850 after regaining control
Gold Forecast 2021 May 18: XAU/USD to test $1,900 amid data disappointments – TDS
Gold price has been hovering around $1,870, extending its recovery. The yellow metal tends to outperform when economic data is weakening, and underperforms when economic prospects improve. Now that there have been numerous data disappointments, forecasters will likely extend projections still lower. Subsequently, Bart Melek, Head of Commodity Strategy, believes XAU/USD is likely to near the $1,900 level.
The data expectation cycle and gold are so happy together
“As the data starts to follow a downward trajectory again and the market enters the corrective part of the data cycle, yields should be held down and the USD may be under pressure.”
Read more: XAU/USD to test $1,900 amid data disappointments – TDS