GOLD Price Analysis – April 15, 2024
Daily Price Outlook
Gold prices (XAU/USD) maintained their upward trend and regained positive traction, hitting an intraday high around the 2,372 level. The reason for this upward trend could be attributed to Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend, which bolstered the safe-haven asset of gold prices. The attack increased tensions in the Middle East, making safe-haven precious metals more attractive. Additionally, the sluggish performance of the US dollar, backed by mixed factors, was seen as another key factor that kept gold prices higher. Moving ahead, traders are waiting for more clues from upcoming US data, specifically the Retail Sales and Empire State Manufacturing Index, to make informed decisions.
Geopolitical Tensions Drive Gold Price Boost
On the geopolitical front, Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend heightened tensions in the Middle East, increasing the risk of further conflicts. This situation benefited safe-haven assets like Gold, which saw a positive boost at the start of the new week. Israeli officials are considering retaliation, but the US made it clear that it won't join any offensive actions against Iran. As per the latest report, Iran fired over 300 projectiles at Israel in retaliation for an earlier strike. Israel hasn't responded yet, but tensions are high as both sides warn of stronger actions.
Therefore, the heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran's attack on Israel led to a positive boost in the Gold price as investors sought safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Challenges for Gold Amid Fed's Delayed Rate Hike and Strong Dollar
On the US front, investors are delaying their expectations for the first Federal Reserve rate hike to September due to persistent inflation concerns. They recently adjusted their predictions for the Federal Reserve's initial interest rate reduction, moving it from June to September. This change came after the release of US consumer inflation data, which exceeded expectations and hinted at stronger price pressures.
Consequently, investors now anticipate that the Fed may delay its intervention to address these inflationary trends until later in the year. This delay supports higher US Treasury bond yields, keeping the US Dollar strong and creating challenges for Gold.
Besides this, traders now expect fewer rate cuts in 2024 than the Fed's projections, further strengthening the US Dollar to its highest level in months. This hawkish stance from the Fed, coupled with a strong Dollar, could cap gains in Gold prices ahead of key US economic data releases. Therefore, the delay in the Federal Reserve rate hike, coupled with expectations of fewer rate cuts and a strong US Dollar, presents challenges for Gold as investors may hesitate to make aggressive trades.
GOLD (XAU/USD) - Technical Analysis
Gold's trading session on April 15 saw a modest uptick, with the price closing at $2,346.70, a 0.70% increase from the previous day. The precious metal is hovering near a pivotal juncture at $2,368, serving as the day’s technical fulcrum. Should gold surpass this pivot point, it could encounter resistance at $2,399, with further hurdles at $2,421 and $2,450 potentially capping upward movements.
Conversely, immediate support lies at $2,327, with additional safety nets at $2,303 and $2,268. A breach of these levels could precipitate a more pronounced decline, signaling a potential shift in investor sentiment towards gold. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 48, indicating a neutral market that could swing in either direction based on external market stimuli.
The 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $2,330 lends support slightly below the current price, suggesting a level of underlying market support. Notably, a breakout below the upward channel near $2,367 might trigger a selling trend, prompting a strategic sell below $2,362. Traders might consider taking profit at $2,310 and placing a stop loss at $2,397 to manage risk effectively.
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