Gold nears 200-day MA for the first time since June 14

Gold neared the critical 200-day moving average (MA) for the first time since June 14.
The long-term MA hurdle could be scaled convincingly if the Fed signals just one rate hike in 2019.

Omkar Godbole FXStreet Contributor

Gold is within a striking distance from the 200-day MA line of $1,252.

At press time, the yellow metal is changing hands at $1,250, having clocked a session high of $1,251 earlier today. Notably, the long-term MA hurdle was last put to test on June 14. Back then, the MA line was located at $1,306.

Focus on Fed

The US central bank is expected to hike rates by 25 basis points - a move priced in by investors - and sound cautious. More importantly, markets are pricing in just one rate hike for 2019.

The Fed, however, may sound less dovish-than-expected by removing just one rate hike from the September forecast of three rate hikes in 2019. In that case, the American dollar could pick up a strong bid, pushing the yellow metal lower.

The zero-yielding safe-haven metal could beat the 200-day MA line if the Fed matches market expectations by signaling just one rate hike in 2019. Also, gold may rise sharply if the forward guidance drops hints of a rate pause in 2019.

Gold Technical Levels

XAU/USD

Overview:
    Today Last Price: 1249.9
    Today Daily change: 70 pips
    Today Daily change %: 0.0560%
    Today Daily Open: 1249.2
Trends:
    Previous Daily SMA20: 1234.1
    Previous Daily SMA50: 1227.16
    Previous Daily SMA100: 1214.43
    Previous Daily SMA200: 1230.8
Levels:
    Previous Daily High: 1250.3
    Previous Daily Low: 1245.1
    Previous Weekly High: 1250.85
    Previous Weekly Low: 1233
    Previous Monthly High: 1237.4
    Previous Monthly Low: 1196.4
    Previous Daily Fibonacci 38.2%: 1248.31
    Previous Daily Fibonacci 61.8%: 1247.09
    Previous Daily Pivot Point S1: 1246.1
    Previous Daily Pivot Point S2: 1243
    Previous Daily Pivot Point S3: 1240.9
    Previous Daily Pivot Point R1: 1251.3
    Previous Daily Pivot Point R2: 1253.4
    Previous Daily Pivot Point R3: 1256.5

Author

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

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