FUNDAMENTAL
OVERVIEW
Gold is trading near weekly lows as the hedging
activity into the FOMC decision and renewed escalation on the US-Iran front
weighed on the precious metal.
Iran launched a “surprise attack” against US forces in
the region tonight. All the missiles and drones were intercepted, but the
escalation increased the risk of a prolonged conflict.
Today, all eyes will be on the FOMC decision. The Fed
is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%. The consensus
expects up to two dissenters to vote in favour of a rate hike at this meeting,
likely Fed’s Logan and/or Fed’s Hammack. We won’t get the Summary of Economic
Projections (SEP) at this meeting.
Forward guidance is likely to remain limited, with Fed
Chair Warsh expected to refrain from providing any major policy signals while
stressing data dependence and the Fed’s commitment to price stability.
The hawkish surprises include more than two dissenters
and a rate hike at this meeting already. The “dovish” surprise, on the other
hand, would be a perfect consensus with no dissenters.
If the Fed delivers a hawkish surprise, we can expect gold
to drop into new monthly lows on tightening financial conditions. Conversely, a
“dovish” surprise would likely trigger a relief rally with traders starting to
position for a possible stagflationary scenario.
You can read the comprehensive Fed preview here
GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS – DAILY TIMEFRAME
On the daily chart, we can
see that gold is still hovering around the major downward trendline. The
sellers will likely continue to lean on the trendline with a defined risk above
it to keep pushing into new lows. The buyers, on the other hand, will want to
see the price breaking higher to pile in for a rally into the next trendline
around the 4,500 level.
GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS – 4
HOUR TIMEFRAME
On the 4 hour chart, we can
see the price action has been mostly rangebound since late June, and this
leaves traders with little to do other than waiting for technical breakouts or
fundamental catalysts. The buyers will need the price to break above the 4,200
resistance to gain more conviction for a reversal of the trend. The sellers, on
the other hand, will likely step in around the resistance with a defined risk
above it to position for a drop into the 3,885 level.
GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS – 1
HOUR TIMEFRAME
On the 1 hour chart, there’s
not much we can add here as the near-term direction will be decided by the FOMC
decision. A hawkish surprise would trigger a selloff into the 3,885 level and
potentially lower, while a dovish surprise would lead to an upside breakout and
take us to the 4,200 resistance. The red lines define the average daily range for today but in case we get
surprises from the FOMC decision, they won’t be respected.
UPCOMING CATALYSTS
Today, we have the FOMC
rate decision. Tomorrow, we get the US PCE price index, the Advance Q2 GDP and
the Jobless Claims figures. On Friday, we conclude the week with the US Q2
Employment Cost Index. Traders will also keep monitoring US-Iran developments.
This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.
