Gold eases off weekly highs, turns flat near $1204 as stocks push higher


  • DJIA hits fresh all-time high on Thursday.
  • US Dollar Index recovers modestly, looks to end the day near 94.
  • Philly Fed reports strong activity in the regional manufacturing sector. 

After advancing to its highest level in a week at $1208.40, the XAU/USD pair lost its traction as the precious metal struggled to find demand in the risk-on environment. As of writing, the pair was virtually unchanged on the day at $1204.

Earlier in the day, a broad-based selling pressure witnessed on the greenback helped the pair extend higher. The US Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, fell to its lowest level since early July at 93.83. With some positive macroeconomic data releases from the U.S., the index started to retrace its losses and was last seen still down 0.5% on the day at 94.06.

The weekly jobless claims in the U.S. edged down to 201K in the week to September 14 and the Philly Fed Manufacturing Index rose to 22.9 from 11.9 to beat the analysts' estimate of 17. Finally, existing-home sales stayed unchanged on a monthly basis in August following July's 0.7% decline. Commenting on the report, "U.S. existing home sales, by far the largest portion of the real estate market, have stabilized at pre-bubble levels,  but purchases are unlikely to move higher until there is a sustained increase in wages," FXStreet Senior Analyst Joseph Trevisani said.  

Meanwhile, following yesterday's mixed trading session, major equity indexes started the day on a strong note and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced to a fresh record high to provide a boost to the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite, which were last seen up 0.65% and 0.85% on the day.

There won't be any other macroeconomic data releases in the remainder of the day and the market's risk perception is likely to stay as the primary driver of the pair's price action.

Technical levels to consider

The pair could encounter the first technical support at $1200 (psychological level/20-DMA) ahead of $1192 (Sep. 17 low) and $1187 (Sep. 11 low). On the upside, resistances align at $1208 (daily high), $1213 (Sep. 13 high) and $1220 (Aug. 3 high).

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD edges lower toward 1.0700 post-US PCE

EUR/USD edges lower toward 1.0700 post-US PCE

EUR/USD stays under modest bearish pressure but manages to hold above 1.0700 in the American session on Friday. The US Dollar (USD) gathers strength against its rivals after the stronger-than-forecast PCE inflation data, not allowing the pair to gain traction.

EUR/USD News

GBP/USD retreats to 1.2500 on renewed USD strength

GBP/USD retreats to 1.2500 on renewed USD strength

GBP/USD lost its traction and turned negative on the day near 1.2500. Following the stronger-than-expected PCE inflation readings from the US, the USD stays resilient and makes it difficult for the pair to gather recovery momentum.

GBP/USD News

Gold struggles to hold above $2,350 following US inflation

Gold struggles to hold above $2,350 following US inflation

Gold turned south and declined toward $2,340, erasing a large portion of its daily gains, as the USD benefited from PCE inflation data. The benchmark 10-year US yield, however, stays in negative territory and helps XAU/USD limit its losses. 

Gold News

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC’s next breakout could propel it to $80,000 Premium

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC’s next breakout could propel it to $80,000

Bitcoin’s recent price consolidation could be nearing its end as technical indicators and on-chain metrics suggest a potential upward breakout. However, this move would not be straightforward and could punish impatient investors. 

Read more

Week ahead – Hawkish risk as Fed and NFP on tap, Eurozone data eyed too

Week ahead – Hawkish risk as Fed and NFP on tap, Eurozone data eyed too

Fed meets on Wednesday as US inflation stays elevated. Will Friday’s jobs report bring relief or more angst for the markets? Eurozone flash GDP and CPI numbers in focus for the Euro.

Read more

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures