Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD extends reversal below $4.400 amid Fed hawkish repricing
- XAU/USD extends its reversal below $4,400, posting a nearly 7% decline from last week's highs.
- Precious metals struggle this week as markets reprice a Fed rate hike in September.
- Gold bears are focusing on mid-August lows at the $4,315 area
Gold (XAU/USD) resumed its decline on Tuesday, following a flat performance on Monday, reaching fresh two-week lows at $4,375 so far, posting a nearly 7% decline from last week’s peak, near $4,700. Precious metals are struggling this week as hawkish comments by Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Kevin Warsh at the Jackson Hole summit on Friday provided a fresh boost to the USD.
Strategists at Brown Brothers Harriman note that the US Dollar has “recovered most of yesterday’s pullback” as policy expectations remain firmly skewed toward further tightening. They also highlight that “Fed funds futures price in 67% odds of a 25bps hike on September 16 and imply 60bps of tightening over the next twelve months,” with market “pricing [set to] remain elevated into the September meeting.”
In their view, however, “August CPI on September 11” will be the “decisive test” to see whether those rate expectations – and the Dollar’s recovery – can be sustained.
Technical Analysis: Next downside target is at $4,315
XAU/USD trades at $4,378, with momentum indicators in the daily chart entering bearish territory. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is testing levels below the key 50 line, and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has slipped below zero, pointing to increasing downside pressure.
Immediate support is seen at the mid-August lows between $ 4,310 and $4,330. Further down, the August 6 low, near $4,225, would come into view. On the topside, previous support at the $4,450 area has now turned resistance and is likely to test rallies, ahead of the 200-day simple moving average (SMA) at $4,530 and last week's highs, near $4,700.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Gold FAQs
Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.