Gold price attracted some sellers in Tuesday’s early Asian session, but rising bets of a US rate cut this year and escalating geopolitical conflicts might cap the Gold’s downside. Investors are closely watching the US CB’s Consumer Confidence and Housing Price Index data, scheduled for release on Tuesday. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) halted gold purchases in July for the third straight month, sparking concerns about the sluggish economy and demand for precious metals in China, which is the largest producer and consumer of gold globally. Traders are eagerly awaiting the upcoming August data for fresh impetus. In addition, concerns about the sluggish economy and the demand for precious metals in China could potentially drag the price of gold down.
Meanwhile, Hamas has rejected fresh Israeli conditions in ceasefire talks in Egypt and insists that Israel be bound by the terms of a proposal put forth by US President Joe Biden and the UN Security Council. The Federal Reserve (Fed) has been signaling a potential interest rate cut, with officials such as Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly and Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin expressing support for such a move. Fed Chair Powell indicated at the Jackson Hole symposium that policy adjustments are necessary. Additionally, economic indicators such as the US Durable Goods Orders for July have shown strong growth, with markets fully pricing in a 25 basis points rate cut.
From a technical analysis perspective, despite Gold price edging lower, the broader bullish picture remains intact. The yellow metal is well-supported above the key 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the daily chart, with a broader bullish outlook prevailing. The upcoming resistance areas and support zones will be crucial in determining the potential price movements of Gold in the coming days. If Gold manages to sustainably exceed resistance levels, it could advance towards the $2,600 psychological barrier.
In terms of currency movements, the US Dollar (USD) was the weakest against the Canadian Dollar this week, according to the percentage change data. The heat map displayed percentage changes of major currencies against each other, showing the relative strength of the USD against currencies such as the Euro, GBP, and JPY. The base currency and quote currency selections in the table provided a comprehensive overview of the USD’s performance against other major currencies.
Lastly, Gold has historically been a key player in human history, serving as a store of value and medium of exchange. Central banks are the biggest holders of Gold, as they diversify reserves to support their currencies during turbulent times. Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, making it a popular investment choice during times of geopolitical instability or economic uncertainty. Various factors such as interest rates, economic indicators, and currency movements can influence the price of Gold, with strong ties to the behavior of the US Dollar.