Gold refreshes multi-year top to cross $1600 amid calls of Iran attacks

Gold extends its northward trajectory to the levels last seen in April 2013.
Iran retaliates to the US killing of the key Quads force person Qasem Soleimani.
Markets are now rushing to risk-safety but will also keep eyes on the US President Trump for further direction.

Anil Panchal FXStreet

Gold prices remain solid around $1,605, after a high of $1,605.65, during early Wednesday. The safe-haven recently benefited from the news from Iraq where the US facilities have been attacked by Iranian forces.

Iran begins operation “Martyr Soleimani”…

Multiple locations in Iraq, including the al Asad airbase that hosts US forces, are under attack by the Iranian forces. Bloomberg recently came out with the news mentioning that Iran has started operation “Martyr Soleimani” with several rockets being fired at Ayn al-Asad base in Iraq. The Middle East nation is taking revenge on the US killing of the key Quad force personnel during the late last-week.

As a result, the market’s risk tone has nosedived and so do the bond yields. The US 10-year treasury yields drop more than 7 basis points to 1.72% by the press time.

Read: Trump briefed on reports of attacks on Iraq air base - White House - Reuters

Following that, Reuters came out with the news mentioning the quote from Pentagon as saying, “we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend US personnel, partners and allies in the region.”

Traders are now all running towards the risk-safety and hence Gold and Japanese yen (JPY) are their best bets. As a result, these assets are likely to keep being the Bulls favorite until the dust settles.

It’s worth mentioning that the prices could witness a higher boost if the US also indulges in the fire-game.

Technical Analysis

Additional important levels

Overview
Today last price	1599.9
Today Daily Change	28.10
Today Daily Change %	1.79
Today daily open	1571.8

Trends
Daily SMA20	1503.7
Daily SMA50	1484.76
Daily SMA100	1494.65
Daily SMA200	1427.01

Levels
Previous Daily High	1573.24
Previous Daily Low	1555.6
Previous Weekly High	1553.4
Previous Weekly Low	1510.85
Previous Monthly High	1525.1
Previous Monthly Low	1454.05
Daily Fibonacci 38.2%	1566.5
Daily Fibonacci 61.8%	1562.34
Daily Pivot Point S1	1560.52
Daily Pivot Point S2	1549.24
Daily Pivot Point S3	1542.88
Daily Pivot Point R1	1578.16
Daily Pivot Point R2	1584.52
Daily Pivot Point R3	1595.8

Author

Anil Panchal

FXStreet

Anil Panchal has nearly 15 years of experience in tracking financial markets. With a keen interest in macroeconomics, Anil aptly tracks global news/updates and stays well-informed about the global financial moves and their implications.

AUD/USD bulls regain control above 0.6950 amid USD retreat

AUD/USD regains traction and extends the previous day's bounce from the weekly low, aiming for 0.7000 in Asia on Friday. The overnight pullback in US bond yields keeps the US Dollar below an 18-month high, which in turn offers some support to the pair. Meanwhile, hawkish RBA expectations also keep the major underpinned.

USD/JPY holds gains near 158.00 after Japan's weak Household Spending data

USD/JPY clings to gains around 158.00 after data showed on Friday that Japan's Household Spending fell for the ninth straight month, undermining the Japanese Yen. Meanwhile, the US Dollar remains depressed as the overnight fall in US bond yields counters a hawkish Fed and geopolitical uncertainties, could cap any downside in the pair.

Gold remains range-bound below $4,200

Gold has given up some ground after an initial bullish attempt to reach weekly highs, returning to below the $4,200 mark per troy ounce on Friday. The US Dollar’s strong upside momentum, combined with rising US Treasury yields across the curve, seems to keep further gains in the yellow metal under scrutiny.

Has Bitcoin really escaped the macro forces it was built to fight?

Over 17 years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto designed Bitcoin (BTC) on the back of a global financial crisis as an alternative to the global monetary system outside the control of central banks, governments and traditional intermediaries. This raises a key question: has Bitcoin really become independent of the macroeconomic forces it was built to challenge?

The Euro is not the sick man of Europe. France's bond market is

EUR/USD remains under pressure, near the 17-month low of 1.1161 reached on Monday. The pair has lost more than 7% since its yearly peak, as concerns over France's public finances increasingly weigh on the single currency. But behind the weakness of the Euro (EUR), the problem does not necessarily lie with the European economy as a whole.