Right after this month’s FOMC meeting concluded and Chairman Powell held his regular press conference, gold began to move into uncharted territory. As of 5:40 PM EDT, gold futures basis most active April contract is currently fixed at $2183.80,which is a net loss of $6.30, or 0.29% today. However, the history that was made today was not in gold’s closing price but rather its intraday high. Gold traded to an intraday high over $20 above the former record high of $2203 when traders pushed gold to $2225.30 in today’s trading.

On Tuesday, we identified a Western technical chart pattern called a bullish flag formation. This pattern occurs after a strong uptrend. Gold price began a strong advance on February 29 when gold futures were trading at $2053.10. What followed was six consecutive days in which gold traded to a higher high, a higher low, and a higher close than the previous day. 

On March 11, gold traded to a higher close, gaining $2.80 and closing at $2189. The strong price advance over the seven days created the “pole” of the bullish flag formation. For the next six days, from March 12 through March 19, the flag was created as gold consolidated with a downside bias.

The chart above is a four-hour Japanese candlestick chart of gold futures. The pole is colored green, and the flag is colored red. Yesterday, following the conclusion of the FOMC meeting, the release of the SEP, and the press conference, gold prices spiked to their highest level in history.

Although gold has retraced from those highs at the time of writing, the pattern identified (Bull Flag) can be used to project where the current rally in gold could conclude. The projection (black dashed line) is based upon measuring the price move from the beginning to the end of the “pole”, and then projecting that same distance from the bottom of the flag.

This particular bull flag pattern suggests that gold could trade above $2300 by the completion of this pattern.

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Washington — Members of the Ghost Army, a top-secret military unit credited with saving thousands of Americans during World War II using distraction techniques, received Congressional Gold Medals on Thursday. 

The unit was tasked with deceiving the Germans. Using inflatable tanks and artillery, along with sonic deception like soundtracks, they tricked adversaries into thinking that Allied forces were in one location, while they advanced elsewhere. The effort, made up of a group of artists, designers, audio technicians and others, resulted in an estimated 30,000 American lives saved, and remained classified for decades after the war ended. 

President Biden signed legislation honoring the service members into law in 2022, noting in a statement “their unique and highly distinguished service in conducting deception operations in Europe during World War II.” 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other lawmakers delivered remarks honoring the service members on Thursday, before bestowing Congress’ highest honor. 

“This Congressional Gold Medal reaffirms our commitment to remembrance and reverence as we honor all of these patriots,” Jeffries said. “We thank and honor the members of the Ghost Army for their unique service to our nation.”

McConnell called the Ghost Army’s legacy a “story of commitment and resolve, bravery and devotion — and remarkable talent and ingenuity.”

“A grateful nation knows how you answered the call in its time of need,” McConnell said. 

Three of seven surviving members of the Ghost Army — Bernard Bluestein, John Christman and Seymour Nussenbaum — attended the event on Thursday. Family members of the late members were also in attendance. 

“I’m very proud and happy to be here to receive this honor,” Bluestein said. 

Because of the classified nature of the unit, the service members went unrecognized for nearly half a century. On Thursday, the  speakers celebrated the legacy of the long-unsung Ghost Army.

“The Ghost Army’s tactics were meant to be invisible,” Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said Thursday. “But today their contributions will no longer remain unseen in the shadows.”

After its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has joined the rank of one of the most sanctioned nations. Yet, despite the imposition of over 16,000 sanctions by the global community, Russia’s economy and military spending continue to rise, with a reported growth of 3.6% in 2023 and an anticipated increase of 2.6% in 2024. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks additional support, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains seemingly unphased, prompting questions about the effectiveness of the sanctions.

India, China and other nations have helped Putin offset a part of western sanctions by their continued purchases of cheap Russian energy resources. India and Russia have emerged two top buying nations of Russian oil since the beginning of the Ukraine war. Both India and China have purchased Russian oil well within the limits set by the western block.

However, apart from continued export of oil and gas, another crucial element in Russia’s resilience appears to be its strategic focus on gold, a report in the Conversation said. Economic sanctions have primarily targeted Russia’s shipping and trade sectors, yet the significant gold market remains relatively unscathed. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom ceased all Russian gold imports, yet Russia has maintained its position as the second-largest gold producer worldwide.

Russia has been fortifying its economy against Western sanctions since 2013, culminating in the pegging of the ruble to gold in early 2022. This move, intended to dissociate the Russian economy from the US dollar, establishes the ruble as a viable alternative to gold at a fixed rate. Countries like Venezuela, despite facing heavy sanctions, have leveraged their gold reserves for international trade and assistance, exemplifying gold’s role in circumventing economic restrictions.

The global central banks’ growing gold acquisitions, amassing about 1,073 metric tons in 2022, underscore the metal’s enduring value as a hedge against financial instability. Despite fluctuations, gold remains a foundational asset for countries aiming to stabilize their currencies and shield against global economic pressures.

While nations like the UK, US, and Canada have refrained from engaging with Russian gold, other countries have not hesitated. The United Arab Emirates and Switzerland, for example, have significantly increased their imports of Russian gold, thus bypassing the intended impact of the sanctions, the Conversation report said.

Putin’s ambition extends beyond merely bolstering Russia’s economy through gold; he envisions the precious metal replacing the US dollar as the primary medium for global trade. However, the success of this strategy depends on an increase in gold’s value, which is influenced by various factors, including consumer demand and central bank policies, the Conversation report said.

Expand

In response, consumers and investors in North America and beyond have the potential to impact gold’s market value through their purchasing decisions. For instance, American consumers’ significant investment in gold, including through outlets like Costco, inadvertently supports Putin’s strategy, especially if the purchased gold includes Russian sources.

Counteracting Putin’s gold strategy requires a multifaceted approach, involving not only individual consumer choices but also coordinated actions by major gold-producing countries and strategic policy adjustments. The challenge lies in diminishing gold’s allure without adversely affecting the global economy, especially considering the interconnected nature of international markets and the pivotal role of gold in financial stability.

Ultimately, understanding and disrupting the gold market’s dynamics may hold the key to undermining the economic foundations supporting Russia’s current geopolitical ambitions and resilience against sanctions.

(With inputs from agencies)

(Kitco News) – Gold prices are just modestly higher in midday U.S. trading Thursday after scoring strong gains and hitting a record high of $2,225.30, basis April Comex futures. Silver prices are slightly down after hitting a 3.5-month high overnight. With prices backing well down from their intra-day highs, gold and silver bulls appear tired and in need of a brief pause. April gold was last up $12.70 at $2,173.70. May silver was last down $0.24 at $24.86.

The marketplace is still buzzing about the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) monetary policy meeting that ended Wednesday afternoon and saw the Federal Reserve keep its monetary policy unchanged, as expected. The FOMC and Fed Chairman Powell leaned a bit dovish. The FOMC statement said the U.S. economy is growing and inflation has eased but is still elevated. The statement said no rate cuts will occur until the Fed has more confidence inflation has been tamed. Still, the statement said the Fed sees three interest rate cuts this year, which is what the marketplace focused more on. The Fed appears willing to tolerate slightly higher inflation for longer and still cut rates.

The U.S. dollar index initially weakened on the FOMC/Powell statements and U.S. Treasury yields dipped a bit. However, today the USDX is posting solid gains and Treasury yields have up-ticked just a bit. The much stronger move in gold Wednesday afternoon is puzzling to many long-time gold watchers, given the more modest price moves in the U.S. dollar index and U.S. Treasuries. It makes one wonder if a big player, like a bank, put on a huge long-side trade in gold futures in the afternoon after-hours market, when volume may have been thinner. That same big player could have quickly taken profits on the big position, which if was the case would explain prices backing well off their daily highs.

Asian and European stock indexes were mixed overnight. U.S. stock indexes are higher and at record highs in midday U.S. trading. The stock market rally to new highs is also probably limiting fresh buying interest in the competing asset class of precious metals.

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index solidly higher. The USDX has seen a solid rebound from the March low and the bulls have the slight technical advantage. Nymex crude oil prices weaker and trading around $80.75 a barrel. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note is presently fetching around 4.25%.

Technically, April gold futures prices hit a contract and record high overnight but then backed off sharply to suggest the bulls are near-term exhausted. The bulls have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. A four-week-old uptrend is in place on the daily bar chart. Price action has seen an upside “breakout” from a bullish pennant pattern on the daily bar chart. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at the contract and record high of $2,225.30. Bears’ next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $2,100.00. First resistance is seen at $2,203.00 and then at $2,225.30. First support is seen at this week’s low of $2,149.20 and then at $2.140.00. Wyckoff’s Market Rating: 8.5.

May silver futures prices hit a 3.5-month high early on today. The silver bulls have the firm overall near-term technical advantage but may now be near-term exhausted. Silver bulls’ next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the December high of $26.575. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $24.00. First resistance is seen at last week’s high of $25.66 and then at $26.00. Next support is seen at this week’s low of $24.92 and then at $24.50. Wyckoff’s Market Rating: 7.0.

May N.Y. copper closed down 60 points at 404.55 cents today. Prices closed nearer the session low. The copper bulls have the solid overall near-term technical advantage but appear tired now. Prices are in a five-week-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Copper bulls’ next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at 425.00 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at 400.00 cents. First resistance is seen at 410.00 cents and then at today’s high of 412.80 cents. First support is seen at this week’s low of 402.70 cents and then at 400.00 cents. Wyckoff’s Market Rating: 7.0.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Great Pacific Gold Corp. (“Great Pacific Gold,” “GPAC,” or the “Company”) (TSXV: GPAC) (OTCQX: FSXLF) (Germany: 4TU) is pleased to announce high-grade gold assays from its initial follow up diamond drill hole of the Comet gold discovery at the Lauriston Gold Project in Victoria, Australia. Diamond drill hole CDH01A intersected 4m at 25.1 g/t Gold from 99.5m including 0.4m at 72.5 g/t Gold from 99.5m and 1m at 55 g/t Gold from 102.5m, within a broader interval assaying 9m at 11.6 g/t Au from 97m.

The high-grade intercept occurs within the core of the Comet Anticline at the fold axis, where the Comet Fault zone junctions with this fold. This high-grade gold mineralization is associated with strong quartz veining with large crystals of arsenopyrite and sulphidic stylolites within the quartz veins. Visible gold is occasionally present within the arsenopyrite crystals.

Figure 1 – Example of CDH01A drill core annotated with gold grades in g/t. Core tray is 100m to 104.23m

The Company set up diamond drill hole CDH01A in close proximity of the high-grade reverse circulation (RC) percussion discovery hole CRC07 (8m at 106 g/t Goldincluding 5m at 166 g/t Gold including 2m at 413 g/t Gold including 1m at 468 g/t Gold and 1m at 358 g/t Gold (from 95 metres) (see news release January 11, 2024)) as a conservative approach to determine extensions of mineralization. The hole CDH01A deviated once underway, steepening with depth and managed to drill about 8m down dip of the projected position of the CRC07 intercept.

Diamond drilling has confirmed the gold rich quartz veined fault zone is extending to depth and laterally with this CDH01A result, and the high-grade mineralization remains open in all directions.

Assays remain pending for two more diamond drill holes on the same section at Comet and will be reported once received. One of these diamond drill holes (CDH02) encountered multiple stacked zones of mineralization and due to this was extended by approximately 100m versus the originally planned target depth. CDH02 was drilled to 255.5m depth.

GPAC Chief Operating Officer and Director, Rex Motton, states, “The high-grade gold intercept in our first diamond drilling, post the reverse circulation discovery hole at Comet, is a great start to the program. In addition to the high-grade gold interval in the first diamond drill hole assaying 4 metres at 25.1 grams per tonne gold within a broader 9 meter mineralized zone, we also are very pleased with early information from the second hole. While no assays have been received for the second hole, it has already shown importance geologically as multiple zones of mineralization were encountered. The second hole, which was originally planned to a target depth of approximately 150 metres was continued until approximately 255 metres based on these stacked zones of mineralization encountered. We see this as early days for this extensive and highly prospective structure.”

The Comet prospect has epizonal characteristics of Au-As-Sb with geology similar to the Fosterville Mine gold deposit. The west dipping Comet fault zone is hosted by Ordovician slates and sandstones, which are folded in a series of north south striking concertina folds. This high-grade discovery is within the core of the Comet Anticline as determined by mapping and core orientation studies, which is a similar structural setting of the mineralization present at Fosterville.

Drill Results and Intercepts:

HoleID	East		North		Azimuth (deg.)		Dip (deg.)		From (m)		To (m)		Downhole Interval (m)		Au g/t
CDH01A	263516.9		5850092.3		95.3		-69.4		97.0		106.0		9.0		11.6
Includes									99.5		103.5		4		25.1
includes									99.5		99.9		0.4		72.5
includes									102.5		103.5		1.0		55.0

The 9m intercept uses a 0.3 g/t Au cut-off grade and maximum 2m internal waste. The 4m intercept uses a 5.0 g/t Au cut-off grade and maximum 0.6m internal waste, while the higher-grade included intercepts use assays of greater than 40 g/t Au and no internal waste parameter. True widths are not known. Additional drilling is required to determine true widths. The assays are not capped.

Figure 2 – Updated Comet Cross Section 5850100mN

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

All assays were subject to quality control measures appropriate for percussion drilling with duplicates, blanks and commercially available standards with the expected results from the samples submitted. All assays were conducted by Onsite Laboratory Services Ltd (ISO: 9001), located in Bendigo, Victoria, using fire assay techniques with a 25g or 50g charge and ICP or AAS finish. The quality control results are consistent.

About GPAC

Great Pacific Gold has a portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Papua New Guinea (“PNG”) and Australia.

In PNG, Great Pacific Gold recently acquired a significant 2,166 sq. km mineral exploration land package in PNG. The land package comprises of exploration licenses (EL) and exploration license applications (ELA). It includes both early-stage and advanced-stage exploration targets with high-grade epithermal vein and porphyry-style mineralisation present.

The Arau Project consists of two exploration licenses, located in the Kainantu region, and includes the Mt. Victor Prospect, where previous drilling found a multiple phase intrusion complex hosting copper and gold mineralisation.

The Wild Dog Project consists of one granted exploration license, EL 2761, and one exploration license application, ELA 2516, located on the island of New Britain and about 50 km southwest of Rabaul and Kokopo, PNG.

The Kesar Creek Project consists of one exploration license, EL 2711, and is contiguous with the K92 Mining Inc. tenements.

In Australia, Great Pacific Gold began with two, 100% owned, high-grade gold projects called the Lauriston and Golden Mountain Projects, and has since acquired a large area of granted and application tenements containing further epizonal (low-temperature) high-grade gold mineralisation and associated intrusion-related gold mineralization all in the state of Victoria, Australia. The Great Pacific Gold land package, assembled over a multi-year period, notably includes the Lauriston Project which is a 535 sq. km property immediately to the south of and within the same geological framework that hosts Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd’s Fosterville Gold Mine and associated exploration tenements. The Golden Mountain Project is an intrusion-related gold project on the edge of the Strathbogie granite and occurs at the northern end of the Walhalla Gold Belt. The acquired projects include the epizonal gold Providence Project containing the Reedy Creek goldfield which adjoins the Southern Cross Gold’s Sunday Creek exploration project and a large group of recently consolidated granted tenements called the Walhalla Gold Belt Project, which contain a variety of epizonal and intrusion related style gold mineralisation. Additionally, Great Pacific Gold has another gold-focused project called the Moormbool project which has epizonal style gold mineralisation and associated potential intrusion-related gold mineralisation, as well as the Beechworth Project occurs in the northeast of the state and contains intrusion related and mesozonal gold mineralization.

All GPAC’s properties in Australia are 100% owned and have had historical gold production from hard rock sources despite limited modern exploration and drilling.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Rex Motton, AusIMM (CP), COO of GPAC, a Qualified Person under the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Motton is responsible for the technical content of this news release.

On behalf of GPAC

Rex Motton

Chief Operating Officer and Director

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Great Pacific Gold cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Great Pacific Gold’s limited operating history, its exploration and development activities on its mineral properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Great Pacific Gold does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information: Adam Ross, Investor Relations, Direct: (604) 229-9445, Toll Free: 1 (833) 923-3334, Email: info@greatpacificgoldcorp.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c344d80-9ba1-47bc-8a7a-93accba0919f

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db76c6d2-645b-4636-b533-b11d77450c17

KARACHI: 24 karat gold per tola price witnessed an increase of Rs4,600 and was sold at Rs232,400 on Thursday compared to its sale at Rs227,800 on the last trading day.

According to All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association, the price of 10 grams of 24 karat gold also increased by Rs3,943 to Rs199,245 from Rs195,302 whereas the price of 10 gram 22 karat gold went up to Rs182,642 from Rs179,027.

The price of per tola silver increased by Rs.20 to Rs2,600 whereas that of and ten gram silver went up by Rs.17.15 to 2,229.08.

Read more: Gold hits fifth record high in March

The price of gold in the international market increased by $47 to $2,225 from $.2,178, the Association reported.

It is pertinent to mention here that IMF staff and Pakistan have reached a staff-level agreement on the second and final review under Pakistan’s Stand-By Arrangement.

According to the official statement issued by an International Monetary Fund team led by Nathan Porter, the IMF reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan on the second and final review of the country’s stabilization program supported by the IMF’s US$3 billion (SDR2,250 million) SBA approved.

Metal Extracting Sponge

To make the sponge, ETH Zurich scientist Mohammad Peydayesh and his colleagues took away the natural properties of whey protein using acid and high temperatures. The whey proteins turn into protein nanofibrils in a gel. Scientists dried this gel and made a sponge with protein fibrils.

Researchers took over 20 computer motherboards and extracted the metal parts. They dissolved those parts in an acid bath to ionize the metals. Once everything dissolved, they placed the protein fiber sponge in the metal ion solution. Metal ions adhered to the sponge but they found gold ions do so more efficiently.

After extracting the gold ions, researchers heat the sponge to turn the ions into gold flakes that are melted down into a nugget. Out of the 20 motherboards, they obtained a nugget of around 450 milligrams. 91% of that nugget was gold, and the remaining parts were copper, similar to 22 carats.

Eco-friendly

Mezzenga believes this technique has potential in a commercial setting. According to his calculations, the cost of obtaining the materials added to the energy costs for the entire process is 50 times lower than the gold’s value that can be recovered. Next, the researchers want to make the technology ready for the market. While electronic waste is the most promising product to extract gold, they say there are possibly other sources. For example, they believe other sources include waste from microchip manufacturing or gold-plating processes.

In addition, researchers want to investigate the possibility of manufacturing sponges from protein-rich byproducts or waste products from the food industry. Mezzenga said, “The fact I love the most is that we’re using a food industry byproduct to obtain gold from electronic waste.”

All technical indicators have moved towards levels of strong and sharply overbought conditions, caution is advised against buying at these levels. 

• The easing of signals for future US interest rate hikes and the subsequent decline in the US dollar were a strong catalyst for gold prices to move towards new record levels.
• It reached the resistance level of $2222 per ounce, the highest ever, before stabilizing around $2203 per ounce at the start of Thursday’s trading session.

Yesterday, US stock market indices rose to record highs after the Federal Reserve indicated that it is likely to implement the US interest rate cuts that Wall Street markets are looking for this year, despite some disappointing high inflation reports. According to trading platforms, the S&P 500 index jumped 46.11 points, or 0.9%, to 5224.62 points, hitting its all-time high for the second day in a row. Already, it had risen 9.5% so far in 2024, slightly better than the full-year average over the past two decades.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average also jumped 401.37 points, or 1%, to 39512.13 points, and the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 202.62 points, or 1.3%, to 16369.41 points. Also, both hit record highs. Overall, some of the tensions that prevailed in Wall Street markets during the day dissipated after the US Federal Reserve released a survey of its policymakers, which showed that the median still expects the US central bank to make three rate cuts in 2024. Clearly, this is the same number they expected in 2024. Expectations of the relief that such cuts will provide were a major reason for the rise in US stocks to record levels.

The fear in Wall Street markets was that the US Federal Reserve might cut the number of expected cuts due to a series of recent reports that showed inflation is still hotter than expected. In general, the Federal Reserve keeps the main interest rate at its highest level since 2001 to reduce inflation. High interest rates slow the overall economy by making borrowing more expensive and hurting investment prices.

For his part, US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said he had noticed the worse-than-expected reports in the past two months, but they “haven’t really changed the overall story, which is that inflation is moving down gradually on a sometimes-bumpy road to 2%. That story hasn’t changed.”

Powell added that the next move for the Federal Reserve is likely to be a cut sometime this year, but he needs more confirmation that inflation is moving towards its 2% target. Moreover, the Federal Reserve does not have much room for error. Therefore, cutting rates too early could allow inflation to accelerate, but cutting too late could lead to widespread job losses and a recession. Powell said of the January and February inflation data, “I don’t think we really know if this is a bump in the road or something more than that; “We have to find out.” “In the meantime, the economy is strong, the labor market is strong, and inflation has come down significantly, which gives us the ability to deal with this issue carefully.”

On the other hand, US Federal Reserve officials updated their expectations for US economic growth this year. Also, indicating that they may end up keeping the main interest rate higher in 2025 and 2026 than previously thought.

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Returning to the recent technical analysis of the gold price, we indicated that there might be an opportunity for strong upward breakthroughs. Firstly, it breached the $2200 resistance per ounce if the tone of the US Federal Reserve was less hawkish, which has occurred. Now, with the movement above the $2220 resistance per ounce. Currently, all technical indicators have moved towards levels of strong and sharply overbought conditions, caution is advised against buying at these levels. Activating selling operations while awaiting profit-taking is possible but without risking much. After the recent gains, breaking the $2145 support per ounce gains importance for breaking the current upward trend.

Ready to trade our Gold forecast? We’ve shortlisted the most trusted Gold brokers in the industry for you. 

The US Federal Reserve surprised markets yesterday by forecasting it would still make three rate cuts of 0.25% each over the course of 2024, leading to a rally in risky assets and a decline in the US Dollar.

1. The US Federal Reserve held a policy meeting yesterday at which it surprised markets by forecasting that it would still be likely to make 3 rates in 2024, and by raising its forecasts for inflation and economic growth in 2024. The Fed also sees longer-term rates a bit higher beyond 2024, while leaving its rate unchanged for a fifth consecutive meeting. Powell’s bottom line can be summarised as “we need to see more evidence inflation is coming down before we cut”. Markets reacted to this dovish surprise by sending all the major US stock indices, notably the S&P 500 Index, to new record highs, which the US Dollar was moderately sold. Trend traders will be very interested in being long of major US stock market indices, as the price action suggests they will continue to advance.
2. Following the Fed’s meeting yesterday, the Bank of England and the Swiss National Bank will be holding policy meetings today. Both banks are widely expected to leave their interest rates unchanged.
3. After the Fed meeting yesterday, Gold rose strongly to make a new all-time high, trading above $2,200 per ounce for the first time.
4. The Japanese Yen regained some of its earlier losses following its decline after the Bank of Japan raised its interest rate for the first time since 2007 on Tuesday, as the Japanese Finance Minister talked up the Yen by saying he was “watching the FX market with a high sense of urgency”. The USD/JPY currency pair is some way off the 4-month high it made yesterday, but there will still be traders interested in looking for long trades here.
5. In the Forex market, the Australian Dollar has been the strongest major currency since the Tokyo open today. The US Dollar has been the weakest. This puts the AUD/USD currency pair in focus today. When this pair advances it is a typical risk-on indicator.
6. Bitcoin recovered a lot of ground yesterday in line with the Fed-driven risk-on rally, but it still significantly far from its record high near $74,000.
7. In the commodities market, Cocoa futures rose yesterday to close at a new record high price. Trend traders will still be keen to be involved in this very long-running trend on the long side.
8. UK CPI (inflation) data released yesterday was lower than expected, showing a fall from an annualized rate of 4.0% to 3.4% when only a fall to 3.5% was widely expected.
9. There will be important data releases today of US, German, UK, and French Flash Services & Manufacturing data.
10. Yesterday’s release of New Zealand GDP data was a little worse than expected, showing a quarterly decline of 0.1% when an advance by the same amount was widely expected.
11. The earlier release of Australian Unemployment data was much better than expected, showing a decline in the unemployment rate from 4.1% to 3.7% when only 4.0% was expected.

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• Gold price gains strong positive traction for the second straight day and refreshes record high.
• The Fed’s projected three rate cuts this year weigh on the USD and benefit the yellow metal.
• The prevalent risk-on mood prompts some profit-taking amid slightly overbought conditions.

Gold price (XAU/USD) maintains its strong bid tone through the early part of the European session and currently trades around the $2,210 area, just below a fresh record high touched earlier this Thursday. The US Dollar (USD) selling remains unabated in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) projection for three 25 basis points (bps) interest rate cut this year, which, in turn, is seen benefitting the non-yielding yellow metal. Adding to this, geopolitical risks stemming from the protracted Russia-Ukraine war and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East further seem to underpin the safe-have commodity. 

That said, an uptick in the US Treasury bond yields helps limit any further USD losses. Apart from this, a generally positive risk tone might hold back bullish traders from placing fresh bets around the Gold price amid slightly overbought conditions. Nevertheless, the fundamental backdrop seems tilted in favour of bullish traders and suggests that the path of least resistance for the XAU/USD is to the upside. Traders now look to the flash PMIs for cues about the global economic health, which along with the US Weekly Jobless Claims and Existing Home Sales data, might provide some impetus to the XAU/USD. 

Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold price stands tall near the record peak as Fed sticks to three rate cuts projection

• The Federal Reserve on Wednesday maintained its projection of three rate cuts for this year, which weighs on the US Dollar for the second straight day and lifts the Gold price to a fresh all-time peak.
• Policymakers now see the US economy to grow at 2.1% this year compared to 1.4% expected previously, and the jobless rate is seen at 4% by the end of this year, versus 4.1% anticipated in December.
• The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, excluding food and energy, is projected to rise at a 2.6% rate by year-end, compared to the 2.4% increase in the previous quarterly economic projections.
• In the post-meeting press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that inflation is moving down gradually on a somewhat bumpy road; the recent high inflation readings kept officials on a cautious footing.
• According to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, traders are now pricing in a greater chance, around 75%, that the Fed will begin cutting interest rates at the June policy meeting, up from 59% on Tuesday.
• This leads to a modest decline in the US Treasury bond yields, dragging the US Dollar to a one-week low during the Asian session on Thursday and lending some support to the precious metal.
• A slightly overbought condition on the daily chart prompts some profit-taking at higher levels amid a positive tone around the equity markets, which tends to undermine the safe-haven XAU/USD.

Technical Analysis: Gold price seems poised to appreciate further, overbought RSI warrants caution for bulls

From a technical perspective, the overnight strong positive move confirmed a breakout through a bullish flag chart pattern and validated the positive outlook for the Gold price. That said, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has moved back above the 70 mark, making it prudent to wait for some near-term consolidation or a modest pullback before traders start positioning for any further appreciating move. Nevertheless, the broader setup supports prospects for an extension of the recent well-established strong uptrend witnessed over the past month or so.

Meanwhile, any meaningful corrective decline below the $2,200-2,190 region is likely to attract fresh buyers and remain limited near the $2,160-2,158 horizontal zone. This is followed by the weekly swing low, around the $2,146 area, which, if broken decisively, might prompt some technical selling and drag the Gold price further towards the next relevant support near the $2,128-2,127 zone. The XAU/USD could decline further, eventually dropping to the $2,100 round figure.