Gold of to a calm start to the week with US markets closed
- Gold tris to pop back above $2,900 after a downbeat performance on Friday.
- A flood of geopolitical headlines are driving markets on Monday.
- A daily close above $2,900 would support more upside in Gold this week.
Gold’s price (XAU/USD) is trying to reclaim $2,900 again at the time of writing on Monday after its steep correction on Friday. While United States (US) markets are closed due to the President’s Day bank holiday, the Federal Reserve (Fed) is not. On a rather windstill trading day, no less than three Fed speakers will issue comments in an otherwise empty macroeconomic calendar.
Meanwhile, the weekend was filled again with several geopolitical news and comments. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet each other in Saudi Arabia to discuss peace within Ukraine. Neither Ukraine nor Europe are invited to these talks, while both US and Russian officials are already underway.
Daily digest market movers: All eyes on Saudi Arabia
- Market participants are waiting for more insights on President Trump’s reciprocal tariff plans, which could heighten global trade tensions. Next to that, levies on automobiles would be coming as soon as April 2, Bloomberg reports.
- If Senator Cynthia Lummis’ proposal becomes more concrete, Bitcoin could join Gold. The senator suggested adding Bitcoin to the US reserves on Sunday, highlighting the blockchain network's transparency and accessibility.
- At 14:30 GMT, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Patrick Harker delivers a speech on the economic outlook at the Central Banking Series Conference at the University of the Bahamas in Nassau.
- At 15:20 GMT, Fed Governor Michelle W. Bowman delivers brief remarks on the economy and bank regulation at the American Bankers Association (ABA) Conference for Community Bankers in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Closing off this Monday, at 23:00 GMT, Fed Governor Christopher J. Waller speaks on the economic outlook at the UNSW Macroeconomic Workshop in Sydney, Australia.
Technical Analysis: Headline risks could snap
Gold recovers and trades back above $2,900 on Monday following the near 1.5% decline on Friday. However, keep in mind that US bond markets are closed on Monday due to the President’s Day bank holiday. Look out for the headlines on Ukraine and possible new announcements on tariffs.
The first support level on Monday, the S1 support, stands at $2,859. Further down, the S2 support at $2,836 should act as a safeguard and prevent any additional declines to the more significant $2,790 level (October 31, 2024, high).
On the upside, the Daily Pivot at $2,899 is the first level to reclaim again. Next, the R1 resistance at $2,922 is the first level that needs to be recovered, followed by the R2 resistance at $2,962. Further up, the $3,000 psychological level could be next.
XAU/USD: Daily Chart
Interest rates FAQs
Interest rates are charged by financial institutions on loans to borrowers and are paid as interest to savers and depositors. They are influenced by base lending rates, which are set by central banks in response to changes in the economy. Central banks normally have a mandate to ensure price stability, which in most cases means targeting a core inflation rate of around 2%. If inflation falls below target the central bank may cut base lending rates, with a view to stimulating lending and boosting the economy. If inflation rises substantially above 2% it normally results in the central bank raising base lending rates in an attempt to lower inflation.
Higher interest rates generally help strengthen a country’s currency as they make it a more attractive place for global investors to park their money.
Higher interest rates overall weigh on the price of Gold because they increase the opportunity cost of holding Gold instead of investing in an interest-bearing asset or placing cash in the bank. If interest rates are high that usually pushes up the price of the US Dollar (USD), and since Gold is priced in Dollars, this has the effect of lowering the price of Gold.
The Fed funds rate is the overnight rate at which US banks lend to each other. It is the oft-quoted headline rate set by the Federal Reserve at its FOMC meetings. It is set as a range, for example 4.75%-5.00%, though the upper limit (in that case 5.00%) is the quoted figure. Market expectations for future Fed funds rate are tracked by the CME FedWatch tool, which shapes how many financial markets behave in anticipation of future Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.
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