Despite the initial drop on Monday, the gold price was relatively quiet last week.

The price shot up to around 2710 due to all the geopolitical tensions the week before. But then, it quickly retreated after an uneventful weekend. The risk premium dramatically reduced as the Asian market opened on Monday, leading to gold prices falling below 2700 early in the session. During the U.S. trading session on the same day, Trump announced the preliminary tariff policies on China, Canada, and Mexico via social media. The market anticipated a continued high-interest environment in the U.S. until 2025, exerting pressure on gold prices once more, causing them to dip below 2650(1). Gold prices stabilized thereafter, with a holiday atmosphere prevailing, prices rebounded throughout the week, closing near 2650.

Gold prices experienced significant fluctuations in the past couple of weeks due to the Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Palestine situations. However, as tensions ease, the upward momentum for price has waned. Heading into the final month of 2024, the gold market continues to be influenced by profit-taking sentiments, as the number of open interests in COMEX gold futures dropped, from 560,000 in early November to 450,000 last Friday. Unless there are significant changes in the fundamentals, gold prices are expected to keep consolidating.

This week, the focus will be on Friday’s US employment data, with market expectations suggesting a rebound in non-farm payrolls to 200,000. Gold prices are likely to face some pressure before the data is released.

1-hr chart(above) > Early in the Asian session today, the S-T trend turned bearish as the gold prices dipped below the support line(2). Strong selling resistance appeared near 2665 at the end of last week, suggesting initial operations within the 2600-2665(3) range. If this week’s US job data performs well in the latter part of the week, the gold price may once again visit below 2600.

Daily chart(above) > The overall trend for gold prices continues to adjust towards the 2600 mark, as mentioned last week. The significant selling pressure on Monday (4) is expected to continue influencing the S-T direction. The daily chart range is set between 2605-2665, and if there’s a downward breakout later this week, the downside target could be set around the 100-day MA near 2574 (6).

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