empty
04.09.2024 09:23 AM
Gold Retreats but Refuses to Give Up

Expectations of recovery in the U.S. labor market in August and excessively inflated speculative long positions increase the risks of a correction in gold. However, its medium—and long-term prospects remain bullish. Central banks' appetite to buy precious metals does not cool down even for a minute. The Federal Reserve's monetary easing cycle will lead to capital inflows into ETFs. Geopolitics will continue to faithfully serve buyers of XAU/USD.

According to Goldman Sachs, the tripling of central banks' gold purchases is driven by concerns about U.S. financial sanctions and risks associated with U.S. sovereign debt. These structural factors will continue to favor the precious metal, regardless of how high prices may rise. In the first half of the year, central banks' purchases reached a record high of 483 tons, 5% more than the previous peak in January-June 2023.

The World Gold Council notes that in July, central banks added 37 tons to reserves on a net basis, demand remains high, and it is likely to continue rising.

Dynamics of Gold Purchases by Central Banks

This image is no longer relevant

The Fed is on the verge of the first rate cut in the federal funds cycle, which will return capital to the ETF market. This component of investment demand for gold has been virtually absent over the last two years. However, that hasn't stopped XAU/USD from rising, as the precious metal did so thanks to other bullish factors. It is about to gain a new one, allowing it to aim for a record.

Finally, gold offers excellent conditions as a tool for hedging various risks. This includes geopolitical risks associated with situations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, political risks due to the possible return of the U.S. to trade wars if Donald Trump wins in November, pressure on the Fed from the president, and risks of defaults on U.S. bonds.

Goldman Sachs predicts the rise of precious metal futures to $2,700 per ounce in the first quarter of 2025. How quickly this mark is reached depends on non-farm employment data in the U.S. Investors are waiting for the labor market recovery; however, in case of its slowdown, the chances of a 50 basis point cut in the federal funds rate in September will increase from the current 42%, which would hit the dollar and allow XAU/USD to spread its wings.

This image is no longer relevant

The highest speculative net-long positions may hamper gold's bullish advance in four years. However, the latest report showed that asset managers and hedge funds were cutting short positions more than they were increasing long ones—a good sign for the bulls on XAU/USD.

Technically, on the daily chart of gold, there is a combination of the Three Indians and Splash and Shelf patterns. This combination increases the risk of a pullback if the quotes fall below $2474 per ounce. Successfully breaching this support will allow the build-up of shorts formed from $2515.

Marek Petkovich,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

Market gives away its secret

The world is a stage, and people are its actors. Tragicomedies happen every day in financial markets, but what happened at the start of the second week of April

Marek Petkovich 11:49 2025-04-08 UTC+2

Will Tomorrow Be Better Than Yesterday? (There is a risk of renewed decline in AUD/USD and gold prices)

It's easy to stay optimistic and hope that decision-makers act according to your wishes. Why does this occur? And why can it be a trap for investors? The market sell-off

Pati Gani 09:25 2025-04-08 UTC+2

What to Pay Attention to on April 8? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

There are no macroeconomic events scheduled for Tuesday. However, the current market environment is hardly affected by the macroeconomic background. At this moment, the market has no use for standard

Paolo Greco 07:35 2025-04-08 UTC+2

GBP/USD Overview. April 8. Now It's the Pound Plunging into the Abyss

The GBP/USD currency pair continued its near-crash-like decline throughout Monday. Can anyone even explain, in hindsight, what's happening in the markets right now? There are no questions regarding the drop

Paolo Greco 06:07 2025-04-08 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview. April 8. 2025 – The Year of Trade Wars

The EUR/USD currency pair traded with notable volatility on Monday. Particularly for a so-called "boring Monday," with no significant events scheduled. Yet yesterday was anything but boring—many experts have already

Paolo Greco 06:07 2025-04-08 UTC+2

The Pound Attempts to Hold Within the Bullish Channel

The United Kingdom is among the few G20 countries that got off relatively lightly—it was hit with a 25% tariff on car exports and a 10% tariff on other goods

Kuvat Raharjo 00:58 2025-04-08 UTC+2

The Euro Adopts a Coyote Tactic

If someone strikes your left cheek, there's no need to plead for mercy. Interestingly, more than 50 countries, according to the White House, have done just that. But not China

Marek Petkovich 00:56 2025-04-08 UTC+2

EUR/USD. Analysis and Forecast

Today, the EUR/USD pair is regaining ground after Friday's decline, trading just below the psychological level of 1.1000 amid mixed signals. The U.S. dollar is struggling to capitalize

Irina Yanina 18:55 2025-04-07 UTC+2

XAU/USD. Analysis and Forecast

At the moment, gold has halted its corrective decline from the all-time high reached last week. The recent plunge in global financial markets, triggered by the mutual tariffs initiated

Irina Yanina 18:52 2025-04-07 UTC+2

Jerome Powell Is Not Ready to Intervene

Investors were deeply disappointed when Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made it clear during his Friday speech at the end of last week that he does not intend to intervene

Jakub Novak 11:11 2025-04-07 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.