empty
21.08.2024 10:22 AM
Gold Flows to the West

Times are changing, and so are perspectives. Once, a price of $2500 per ounce of gold seemed exorbitant. Now, the futures market is actively betting that the precious metal could soar to $3000. For the first time in history, bars weighing around 40 ounces are priced above $1 million, which may not be the limit. Such high demand for gold has not been seen in a long time. And not only in the East.

While in 2022-2023, against the backdrop of the Federal Reserve's tightening monetary policy, rising Treasury yields, and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, XAU/USD quotes were rising due to de-dollarization, geopolitics, active central bank purchases, and increased appetite from China and India, the situation has changed in 2024-2025. Now, it is no longer Asia but North America and Europe that dictate their own rules in the precious metal market.

Gold is regaining the correlations it lost in previous years with Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar. Both bond yields and the U.S. dollar are falling due to expectations of aggressive monetary policy easing by the Federal Reserve. Derivatives forecast that in 2024, the federal funds rate will plunge by 100 basis points to 4.5%, and in 2025, it will drop another 100 basis points to 3.5%. Cycles of monetary expansion have always created a favorable environment for an XAU/USD rally.

Dynamics of Gold and U.S. Bond Yields

This image is no longer relevant

It's no surprise that speculators have increased their net long positions in precious metals to the highest levels over four years, and ETF holdings rose in June and July after months of capital outflows from specialized exchange-traded funds.

Essentially, the West has picked up the falling banner from the East. Indeed, the sharp decline in Chinese gold imports in June and July, the cessation of gold purchases by the People's Bank of China, and lower prices in Shanghai compared to London indicate that demand in Asia is starting to wane. Prices are high.

Dynamics of Specialized Gold-Focused ETFs

This image is no longer relevant

What problems could XAU/USD be facing? A recession in the U.S. economy? As events in early August showed, fears of a recession did indeed cause the precious metal to drop. However, this was a momentary reaction to the sharp collapse in U.S. stock indexes. Investors were pulling gold from their portfolios to meet margin requirements for stocks. In fact, a recession is favorable for XAU/USD. In such a scenario, the Fed typically cuts rates sharply, Treasury yields fall, and the U.S. dollar weakens.

This image is no longer relevant

Neither a hard nor a soft landing for the U.S. economy is terrible for the precious metals. The country's GDP is slowing down, its currency is weakening, and it no longer has the same advantage over other countries.

Technically, on the daily gold chart, there is a battle for the pivot level of $2515 per ounce. If it remains for the bulls, we will continue to hold and increase our long positions from $2408, targeting $2570. A local victory for the bears would provide an opportunity to buy the precious metal on a pullback to $2480 per ounce.

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

USD/JPY. Analysis and Forecast

Today, following the release of data showing a February slowdown in the national Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Japanese yen continues to trade with a negative tone, creating uncertainty

Irina Yanina 11:07 2025-03-21 UTC+2

US stock market getting ready for zero hour

The Federal Reserve has done all it can to calm the markets, but in 2025, the spotlight has shifted away from the central bank. The S&P 500 has brushed

Marek Petkovich 09:20 2025-03-21 UTC+2

What to Pay Attention to on March 21? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

There are no scheduled macroeconomic events for Friday. The euro and the pound have finally declined against the U.S. dollar. The Federal Reserve has done its part to calm

Paolo Greco 06:06 2025-03-21 UTC+2

GBP/USD Pair Overview – March 21: The Bank of England Had No Impact on the Current Situation

The GBP/USD currency pair traded very calmly on Thursday, as on Wednesday evening. As the chart below clearly shows, volatility has recently dropped to noticeably low levels. What

Paolo Greco 04:16 2025-03-21 UTC+2

EUR/USD Pair Overview – March 21: Markets Panicked in Vain, but That Doesn't Help the Dollar

The EUR/USD currency pair began showing a semblance of a downward correction between Wednesday and Thursday. The price has consolidated below the moving average on the 4-hour chart, but it's

Paolo Greco 04:16 2025-03-21 UTC+2

The Outlook for the Japanese Yen Remains Confidently Bullish

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, and the market reacted neutrally, as this outcome was widely expected. BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda stated that the risk

Kuvat Raharjo 23:46 2025-03-20 UTC+2

The Dollar Takes Back Its Own

Markets shoot first and ask questions later. Upon hearing Jerome Powell's assurance that the Federal Reserve had everything under control and that there would be no recession, U.S. stock indices

Marek Petkovich 23:45 2025-03-20 UTC+2

XAU/USD. Analysis and Forecast

Gold is experiencing a slight decline after reaching a new all-time high, remaining in a defensive stance. Currently, bullish traders are exercising caution, as indicated by overbought conditions

Irina Yanina 10:29 2025-03-20 UTC+2

Fed's message music to bulls' ears

The Fed is not throwing a lifeline to the S&P 500, but does it need one? Lifelines are for those drowning, while the market is merely spooked by a fleeting

Marek Petkovich 09:05 2025-03-20 UTC+2

Markets Are Stuck in a Vicious Circle with No Exit in Sight (Potential Decline for Bitcoin and Gold Prices)

The markets are currently experiencing significant shock due to a prevailing negative sentiment that looms over them like a heavy burden, with no resolution in sight. Given this situation

Pati Gani 08:23 2025-03-20 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.