- The Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates steady has led to a rise in gold prices.
- However, the increase in US Treasury bond yields and gains in the stock market have reduced the appeal of gold as a safe haven.
- Gold traders are now waiting for the crucial Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) report to determine future direction.
As the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, gold prices see a rise. However, the appeal of gold as a safe haven is reduced due to an increase in US Treasury bond yields and stock market gains. Gold traders now await the crucial NFP report.
Impact of the Federal Reserve on Gold Prices
Following the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates steady, the yellow metal saw a rise. However, gold began to lose altitude after reaching a resistance of $2,320 on Thursday. This pullback occurred after the Federal Reserve announced that it would need stronger evidence of falling inflation before considering rate cuts. This announcement led to an increase in the yield of US Treasury bonds, with the 10-year bond yield rising to 3.45%. The buoyant mood in the stock markets further reduced the appeal of gold as a safe haven.
Effect of Economic Data
The market’s focus is now shifting to US economic data. In particular, the market will be closely watching the Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) data due on Friday. Expectations are for an employment increase of 250,000. Thursday’s economic reports, including the Challenger Job Cuts and Initial Jobless Claims, which are expected to reflect ongoing strength in the labor market, are also providing direction clues to traders. Despite overnight recovery, the momentum of gold remained limited due to expectations that US interest rates will remain high for a longer period. Spot gold traded around $2,300 after falling below $2,300 earlier in the week. The upcoming NFP report and other economic indicators will be critical in determining the short-term price movements of gold.
Technical Outlook for Gold Prices
Market analyst Arslan Ali interprets the technical picture of gold as follows. The precious metal is trading at $2,318.25, down 0.17% at the time of writing. Gold is currently just below the pivot point of $2,326.19, indicating a slight downtrend in market sentiment. The nearest resistance levels are set at $2,352.13, $2,378.36, and $2,417.99. For the trend to turn bullish again, gold needs to surpass these levels. Conversely, support stands at $2,280.78, with further cushion at $2,243.84 and $2,212.02. These are emerging as potential grounds for price declines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates steady has led to a rise in gold prices. However, the increase in US Treasury bond yields and gains in the stock market have reduced the appeal of gold as a safe haven. Gold traders are now waiting for the crucial Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) report to determine future direction. The technical outlook suggests a slight downtrend in market sentiment, with gold needing to surpass certain resistance levels to turn bullish again.
