Gold bulls stay cautious as US bond yields and USD hold steady ahead of Warsh's speech
- Gold struggles to capitalize on the previous day’s move up amid a modest USD uptick.
- Fed hike bets, stable US bond yields and geopolitical risks underpin the safe-haven buck.
- Traders eye Fed Chair Warsh’s speech for cues about the policy path and a fresh impetus.
Gold (XAU/USD) reverses a modest Asian session dip on Friday, though any meaningful appreciation seems elusive amid a modest US Dollar (USD) uptick. The energy-driven acceleration in US inflation lifted market bets for an imminent rate hike by the Federal Reserve (Fed). Moreover, US bond yields seem to have stabilized following Thursday's steep decline, which, along with escalating tensions in the Middle East, seems to underpin the safe-haven USD. This, in turn, might cap the upside for the precious metal as traders keenly await Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s speech.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Wednesday reported a broad increase in consumer prices in September as the US-Israeli war with Iran kept oil prices elevated. Adding to this, the US Producer Price Index (PPI), published on Thursday, advanced 1.3% last month, marking the largest gain since March 2022, and the yearly rate soared to 6.3%. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the core PPI climbed 0.7% and 5% on a monthly and yearly basis, respectively, suggesting that inflation is broadening out beyond energy products. Investors, however, seem convinced that the Fed will keep rates unchanged later this month.
Meanwhile, CME Group's FedWatch Tool indicates over a 90% chance that the US central bank will raise borrowing costs again at its December policy meeting. Hence, Warsh's remarks at the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group, in Bangkok, will be scrutinized for more cues about the Fed's future policy path. The outlook, in turn, will play a key role in influencing the near-term US Dollar (USD) price dynamics and provide some meaningful impetus to the precious metal. In the meantime, persistent geopolitical uncertainties turn out to be another factor acting as a tailwind for the Greenback.
In fact, the Iran-backed Houthi group carried out a deadly missile attack targeting the presidential palace, the seat of Yemen's Saudi-backed and internationally recognised government in the southern city of Aden. Adding to this, French Foreign Minister Pascal Confavreux confirmed that France has started deploying its military assets in Saudi Arabia. Adding to this, the US military developed strike plans that include 'mother of all bombs' against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. This raises the risk of a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which might continue to support the USD and cap the upside for gold.
XAU/USD 4-hour chart
Technical Analysis
The XAU/USD pair, so far, has been struggling to find acceptance above the 100-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) and remains below the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level of the July-August upswing. That said, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator is positive and rising, hinting at strengthening upside momentum. Adding to this, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 56 suggests mildly bullish conditions without reaching overbought territory.
However, it will still be prudent to wait for a sustained move beyond the $4,200 mark and the 61.8% Fibo. retracement at $4,238 before positioning for further gains toward the next upside barriers near the 50.0% retracement at $4,325 and the 38.2% level at $4,412. On the downside, immediate support is offered by the 78.6% Fibo. retracement at $4,115, which is followed by the $4,075-$4,065 horizontal support. A convincing break below the latter would make the Gold vulnerable to challenging the Fibonacci structural floor at $3,957.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Fed FAQs
Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.
In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.
Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.