- Gold price rebounds from a one-week low and draws support from a combination of factors.
- Global trade war fears and geopolitical risks continue to underpin the safe-haven commodity.
- Fed rate cut bets keep the USD depressed and further benefit the non-yielding XAU/USD pair.
Gold price (XAU/USD) struggles to capitalize on its modest intraday bounce from a one-week low and remains below the $2,900 mark through the Asian session on Tuesday. The uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump’s trade policies and their impact on the global economy continues to weigh on investors’ sentiment. This, in turn, assists the safe-haven bullion to attract some intraday dip-buyers near the $2,880 region.
Moreover, the prevalent US Dollar (USD) selling bias, fueled by speculations that a tariff-driven slowdown in US growth might force the Federal Reserve (Fed) to cut interest rates multiple times this year, further underpins the non-yielding Gold price. That said, the lack of follow-through buying and the overnight breakdown below a short-term trading range support warrants caution for bulls ahead of US inflation figures this week.
Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold price remains well supported by trade war fears, weaker USD and geopolitical risks
- Investors continue to take refuge in traditional safe-haven assets amid concerns about US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, assisting the Gold price to rebound from a one-week trough touched on Monday. In fact, Trump’s 25% tariffs on global steel and aluminum imports go into effect on Wednesday. Furthermore, the Trump administration is preparing for other levies planned for April 2.
- Markets remain worried about a potential US recession on the back of Trump’s protectionist policies. Adding to this, signs of a weakening US labor market fuel speculations that the Federal Reserve would resume its rate-cutting cycle in June. This keeps the US Treasury bond yields depressed and the US Dollar close to a multi-month low, further lending support to the non-yielding yellow metal.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s meeting with Trump at the Oval Office on February 28 ended in disaster, leading to the US suspending all military aid to Ukraine. Hence, investors brace for more geopolitical action at a meeting between US officials and their Ukrainian counterparts starting today. This, in turn, could play a key role in influencing the XAU/USD pair’s price action.
- Hours ahead of the US-Ukraine Summit on minerals and peace deal, Ukraine launched record drone attacks on Russia’s capital, Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that Russian air defense units destroyed at least 11 Ukrainian drones flying towards the Ramenskoye and Domodedovo districts, which lie about 40 km (25 miles) to 50 km (30 miles) south and southeast of the Kremlin.
- Later during the North American session, traders will take cues from the release of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) from the US. The focus, however, will remain on the US inflation figures – the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday and the Producer Price Index (PPI) on Thursday. This will drive the USD and determine the near-term trajectory for the precious metal.
Gold price seems vulnerable; Monday’s breakdown below a short-term trading range support near the $2,900 mark in play
From a technical perspective, the overnight breakdown and close below the $2,900 round figure, or the lower end of a short-term trading range, could be seen as a key trigger for bearish traders. That said, mixed oscillators on the daily chart make it prudent to wait for some follow-through selling below the $2,880 region, or the one-week low, before positioning for further losses. The subsequent downfall could drag the Gold price to the $2,860 intermediate support en route to the late February swing low, around the $2,833-2,832 region, and the $2,800 mark.
On the flip side, any further move up beyond the $2,900 round figure is likely to face some resistance near the $2,922-2,924 area. A sustained strength beyond the said barrier could lift the Gold price beyond the $2,934 resistance, towards retesting the record high, around the $2,956 region touched on February 24.
Risk sentiment FAQs
In the world of financial jargon the two widely used terms “risk-on” and “risk off” refer to the level of risk that investors are willing to stomach during the period referenced. In a “risk-on” market, investors are optimistic about the future and more willing to buy risky assets. In a “risk-off” market investors start to ‘play it safe’ because they are worried about the future, and therefore buy less risky assets that are more certain of bringing a return, even if it is relatively modest.
Typically, during periods of “risk-on”, stock markets will rise, most commodities – except Gold – will also gain in value, since they benefit from a positive growth outlook. The currencies of nations that are heavy commodity exporters strengthen because of increased demand, and Cryptocurrencies rise. In a “risk-off” market, Bonds go up – especially major government Bonds – Gold shines, and safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and US Dollar all benefit.
The Australian Dollar (AUD), the Canadian Dollar (CAD), the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) and minor FX like the Ruble (RUB) and the South African Rand (ZAR), all tend to rise in markets that are “risk-on”. This is because the economies of these currencies are heavily reliant on commodity exports for growth, and commodities tend to rise in price during risk-on periods. This is because investors foresee greater demand for raw materials in the future due to heightened economic activity.
The major currencies that tend to rise during periods of “risk-off” are the US Dollar (USD), the Japanese Yen (JPY) and the Swiss Franc (CHF). The US Dollar, because it is the world’s reserve currency, and because in times of crisis investors buy US government debt, which is seen as safe because the largest economy in the world is unlikely to default. The Yen, from increased demand for Japanese government bonds, because a high proportion are held by domestic investors who are unlikely to dump them – even in a crisis. The Swiss Franc, because strict Swiss banking laws offer investors enhanced capital protection.
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