No news for GBPJPY pair until this moment due to its stability below 211.30 barrier, which forces it to provide new sideways fluctuated moves and delay the bullish rally in the current trading.

There are a chance for forming bearish corrective waves to target 210.40 level, reaching extra support near 209.70, while breaching the current barrier and holding above it, will provide a chance for a new bullish waves, to record extra gains by its rally towards 212.50 reaching the bullish channel’s resistance at 213.55.

The expected trading range for today is between 209.30 and 211.30

Trend forecast: Fluctuated within the bullish trend

Important DisclaimersFXEmpire is owned and operated by Empire Media Network LTD., Company Registration Number 514641786, registered at 7 Jabotinsky Road, Ramat Gan 5252007, Israel. The content provided on this website includes general news and publications, our personal analysis and opinions, and materials provided by third parties. This content is intended for educational and research purposes only. It does not constitute, and should not be interpreted as, a recommendation or advice to take any action, including making any investment or purchasing any product. Before making any financial decision, you should conduct your own due diligence, exercise your own discretion, and consult with competent advisors. The content on this website is not personally directed to you, and we do not take into account your individual financial situation or needs. The information contained on this website is not necessarily provided in real time, nor is it guaranteed to be accurate. Prices displayed may be provided by market makers and not by exchanges. Any trading or other financial decision you make is entirely your own responsibility, and you must not rely solely on any information provided through the website. FXEmpire does not provide any warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information contained on the website and shall bear no responsibility for any trading losses you may incur as a result of using such information. The website may include advertisements and other promotional content. FXEmpire may receive compensation from third parties in connection with such content. FXEmpire does not endorse, recommend, or assume responsibility for the use of any third-party services or websites. Empire Media Network LTD., its employees, officers, subsidiaries, and affiliates shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from your use of the website or reliance on the information provided herein.Risk DisclaimersThis website contains information about cryptocurrencies, contracts for difference (CFDs), and other financial instruments, as well as about brokers, exchanges, and other entities trading in such instruments. Both cryptocurrencies and CFDs are complex instruments and involve a high risk of losing money. You should carefully consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. FX Empire encourages you to conduct your own research before making any investment decision and to avoid investing in any financial instrument unless you fully understand how it works and the risks involved.

NEW YORK, Jan 4, 2026, 12:41 ET — Market closed

EQT Corp shares finished the first trading day of 2026 lower after U.S. natural gas futures slipped on forecasts for milder weather across the country. The largest U.S. gas producer closed down 0.3% at $53.46 on Friday. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

The move matters because January is the heart of the U.S. heating season, when small shifts in temperature forecasts can swing demand and, by extension, gas prices and producer margins. Traders are also weighing record supply against the export pull from LNG terminals. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

Gas prices set the revenue baseline for Appalachia-focused producers like EQT, which sell much of their output against the Henry Hub benchmark in Louisiana. That makes weather, storage and export flows immediate drivers for gas-linked equities heading into Monday’s reopen. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

Front-month natural gas futures for February delivery fell 9.6 cents, or 2.6%, to $3.59 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) on Friday, Reuters reported. An mmBtu is a standard unit used to price gas. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

Meteorologists see warmer-than-normal temperatures nationwide through Jan. 16, Reuters reported, pushing down “heating degree days,” a measure of how much energy is needed to heat buildings. Heating degree days fell from 413 earlier in the week to 369 by Friday, according to the report. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

On the supply side, financial firm LSEG estimated average Lower 48 output rose to 110 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in December, topping a November record, Reuters said. LSEG also put December feedgas flows to the eight largest U.S. LNG export plants at a record 18.5 bcfd. (A bcfd is a daily volume measure.) Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

Gas-heavy peers moved unevenly with the commodity. Antero Resources fell 0.7% and Range Resources was little changed on Friday, while LNG exporter Cheniere Energy rose 1.8%.

Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group, pointed to shifting weather signals and a softer international backdrop for LNG. “There’s also some concern internationally… talk of a potential glut,” Flynn said. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

But the downside case for producers is straightforward: if the warm pattern holds, futures can keep sliding as storage draws shrink. Ritterbusch Associates said February futures risk slipping back toward pre-Christmas lows around $3.47, while a colder-than-expected turn would tighten balances quickly and reverse the trade. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

Investors’ next hard read is U.S. storage data: the Energy Information Administration’s weekly natural gas storage report is scheduled for Jan. 8, and the agency’s Henry Hub spot price series is next slated for an update on Jan. 7. Weather model runs into mid-January will remain the swing factor between those releases. U.S. Energy Information Administration

Important DisclaimersFXEmpire is owned and operated by Empire Media Network LTD., Company Registration Number 514641786, registered at 7 Jabotinsky Road, Ramat Gan 5252007, Israel. The content provided on this website includes general news and publications, our personal analysis and opinions, and materials provided by third parties. This content is intended for educational and research purposes only. It does not constitute, and should not be interpreted as, a recommendation or advice to take any action, including making any investment or purchasing any product. Before making any financial decision, you should conduct your own due diligence, exercise your own discretion, and consult with competent advisors. The content on this website is not personally directed to you, and we do not take into account your individual financial situation or needs. The information contained on this website is not necessarily provided in real time, nor is it guaranteed to be accurate. Prices displayed may be provided by market makers and not by exchanges. Any trading or other financial decision you make is entirely your own responsibility, and you must not rely solely on any information provided through the website. FXEmpire does not provide any warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information contained on the website and shall bear no responsibility for any trading losses you may incur as a result of using such information. The website may include advertisements and other promotional content. FXEmpire may receive compensation from third parties in connection with such content. FXEmpire does not endorse, recommend, or assume responsibility for the use of any third-party services or websites. Empire Media Network LTD., its employees, officers, subsidiaries, and affiliates shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from your use of the website or reliance on the information provided herein.Risk DisclaimersThis website contains information about cryptocurrencies, contracts for difference (CFDs), and other financial instruments, as well as about brokers, exchanges, and other entities trading in such instruments. Both cryptocurrencies and CFDs are complex instruments and involve a high risk of losing money. You should carefully consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. FX Empire encourages you to conduct your own research before making any investment decision and to avoid investing in any financial instrument unless you fully understand how it works and the risks involved.

Technically, the main trend is up. A trade through $4,550.15 will signal a resumption of the uptrend. The main trend will change to down according to the weekly swing chart if $3,886.46 is taken out with conviction.

In between these two points is a retracement zone at $4,218.30 to $4,139.99. Trader reaction to this area should set the near-term tone. If buyers come in on the first test of this zone, then a new secondary higher bottom could form, eventually leading to a test of the record high at $4,550.15.

On the flipside, a failure at $4,139.99 will be a sign of weakness and lower prices to follow. This could create the downside momentum needed to drive XAUUSD into the main bottom at $3,886.46.

Long-Term Value Zone: Where the Smart Money Waits

For longer-term traders looking for the best value zone, the weekly chart is flashing a support cluster at $3,543.50 to $3,471.98. The first support is 50% of the rally from the November 2024 bottom at $2,536.85, and the second is the 52-week moving average at $3,471.98. The moving average is the long-term trend indicator. As long as this indicator holds as support, the market will remain in “buy the dip” mode.

Venezuela Crisis Injects Fresh Uncertainty

Fundamentally, news over the weekend injected a fresh dose of geopolitical uncertainty into the gold market. Throughout the week, gold traders will be monitoring new developments in Venezuela after the U.S. launched a military strike and “arrested” President Nicolás Maduro on criminal charges.

Important DisclaimersFXEmpire is owned and operated by Empire Media Network LTD., Company Registration Number 514641786, registered at 7 Jabotinsky Road, Ramat Gan 5252007, Israel. The content provided on this website includes general news and publications, our personal analysis and opinions, and materials provided by third parties. This content is intended for educational and research purposes only. It does not constitute, and should not be interpreted as, a recommendation or advice to take any action, including making any investment or purchasing any product. Before making any financial decision, you should conduct your own due diligence, exercise your own discretion, and consult with competent advisors. The content on this website is not personally directed to you, and we do not take into account your individual financial situation or needs. The information contained on this website is not necessarily provided in real time, nor is it guaranteed to be accurate. Prices displayed may be provided by market makers and not by exchanges. Any trading or other financial decision you make is entirely your own responsibility, and you must not rely solely on any information provided through the website. FXEmpire does not provide any warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information contained on the website and shall bear no responsibility for any trading losses you may incur as a result of using such information. The website may include advertisements and other promotional content. FXEmpire may receive compensation from third parties in connection with such content. FXEmpire does not endorse, recommend, or assume responsibility for the use of any third-party services or websites. Empire Media Network LTD., its employees, officers, subsidiaries, and affiliates shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from your use of the website or reliance on the information provided herein.Risk DisclaimersThis website contains information about cryptocurrencies, contracts for difference (CFDs), and other financial instruments, as well as about brokers, exchanges, and other entities trading in such instruments. Both cryptocurrencies and CFDs are complex instruments and involve a high risk of losing money. You should carefully consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. FX Empire encourages you to conduct your own research before making any investment decision and to avoid investing in any financial instrument unless you fully understand how it works and the risks involved.

NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 12:23 ET — Market closed

• U.S. natural gas futures ended Friday down 1.84% at $3.618 per mmBtu, pressured by warmer mid-January forecasts. Investing
• The United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) fell 1.6% at the close, while gas producers were mixed.
• Traders are watching updated weather models and the next U.S. storage report on Jan. 8. EIA

U.S. natural gas futures closed out the week lower on Friday, with the benchmark contract at $3.618 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), a standard energy unit. Natural-gas-linked stocks and ETFs finished mixed heading into the weekend. Investing

The retreat matters now because traders are repricing winter heating demand after forecasts tilted warmer through mid-January, just as storage withdrawals have been undershooting expectations. That combination can quickly loosen the supply-demand balance that drove late-2025 volatility. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

It also lands as U.S. production and export flows remain elevated, keeping the market sensitive to short-term weather headlines even as longer-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand builds. LNG is natural gas super-chilled into a liquid so it can be shipped overseas. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

Meteorologists forecast warmer-than-normal temperatures across the Lower 48 through Jan. 16, Reuters reported. Heating degree days (HDD)—a gauge of how much energy is needed to heat buildings—were seen falling to 369 by Friday from 413 midweek. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group, pointed to “talk of a potential glut” developing in the international LNG market as another weight on sentiment. He said the market was looking for clearer direction from weather. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

On supply, financial firm LSEG estimated average Lower 48 output rose to 110 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in December, topping November’s monthly record, Reuters reported. LSEG also pegged average flows to the eight big U.S. LNG export plants at 18.5 bcfd in December, another record. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

The latest storage report reinforced the bearish tone. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said firms withdrew 38 billion cubic feet (bcf) from storage in the week ended Dec. 26, below the roughly 50-bcf draw analysts expected in a Reuters poll. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

That compared with a 112-bcf withdrawal in the same week last year and an average 120-bcf draw over the past five years, EIA data showed. Smaller withdrawals typically imply weaker heating demand and more gas left in the system. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

In equities, UNG—which tracks near-dated U.S. natural gas futures—closed down 1.63% at $12.06. Among gas-heavy producers, EQT fell 0.25% to $53.46 and Antero Resources slipped 0.68% to $34.21, while Comstock Resources rose 1.73% to $23.58.

LNG-exposed names held firmer. Cheniere Energy ended up 1.75% at $197.80, while Venture Global rose 3.37% to $7.04.

A separate Reuters review of preliminary LSEG data showed the United States exported 111 million metric tons of LNG in 2025, up about 24% from 2024, as new plants ramped and existing terminals ran hard. The United States is expected to add about 20 million tons per year of LNG export capacity in 2026 as more facilities start up, Reuters reported. Reuters

Pipeline stocks also edged higher on Friday, with Energy Transfer up 0.61% and Kinder Morgan up 0.80%. Energy Transfer has been evaluating whether to convert an NGL pipeline in the Permian Basin to carry natural gas, a shift analysts say could ease periodic pricing blowouts at the Waha hub in West Texas. Midland Reporter-Telegram

Before next session, traders will be focused on updated weather model runs and whether warmth persists into the second half of January. Consultancy Ritterbusch & Associates said the February contract risked sliding back toward pre-Christmas lows around $3.47 if mild forecasts hold. Baird Maritime / Work Boat World

The next major catalyst is the weekly EIA natural gas storage report, typically released at 10:30 a.m. ET on Thursdays and scheduled for Jan. 8. EIA has also said it will implement a new information release system for the weekly natural gas storage report that day, a change that traders will watch closely for timing and access. EIA

Beyond weather and storage, investors are tracking the 2026 price outlook. EIA has forecast Henry Hub spot prices averaging nearly $4.30 per mmBtu across the November-to-March winter season, then easing to about $4 in 2026 as production rises and early-2026 weather turns milder. Midland Reporter-Telegram

For stock investors, earnings season is the next set of scheduled checkpoints. Nasdaq’s earnings calendar lists EQT as estimated to report on Feb. 17, Cheniere on Feb. 19 and Energy Transfer on Feb. 10, while Zacks shows Venture Global’s next report expected on March 5; guidance on 2026 production and LNG contracting will be central. zacks.com

NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 06:22 ET — Market closed

• U.S. forces struck Venezuela overnight; Trump said President Nicolas Maduro was captured and flown out.
• Brent last settled at $60.75 a barrel and WTI at $57.32, with the market still focused on oversupply.
• Traders next watch Sunday’s OPEC+ meeting, U.S. inventory data and the Jan. 9 U.S. jobs report.

U.S. forces struck Venezuela overnight and President Donald Trump said Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country. Trump said he would give more details at an 11 a.m. press conference in Florida.  Reuters

For oil traders, the immediate question is whether the fighting disrupts export infrastructure or shipping, not the politics in Caracas. Any sustained outage in Venezuela would matter most to refineries that run its heavy, sulfur-rich crude.

The benchmarks ended Friday little changed: Brent settled at $60.75 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate at $57.32. Both fell nearly 20% in 2025, and “Oil prices are locked in this long-term trading range,” said Phil Flynn, a senior analyst at Price Futures Group.  Reuters

Venezuela’s oil flows were already under strain. U.S. sanctions and recent seizures of oil tankers have halved the country’s normal export rate, Reuters reported, though Chevron has continued to export Venezuelan crude under a U.S. license.  Reuters

That backdrop leaves room for a risk premium — an extra price traders pay for disruption risk — when futures reopen. In the base case, prices swing higher early in the week and then settle back if cargoes keep moving and no fresh supply loss emerges.

The upside case is tied to logistics: port closures, power disruptions, or insurers and shipowners avoiding Venezuela. The downside case is familiar — concerns that global supply outpaces demand, encouraging sellers to use any headline-driven rally to hedge.

Traders will also watch how buyers price heavy crude versus the benchmarks. Differentials — discounts or premiums for a specific grade versus a benchmark — often react faster than futures when a particular stream is threatened.

Energy investors will be looking for clarity on whether the U.S. action changes the sanctions picture, shipping compliance, or the scope of Washington’s pressure campaign against Venezuelan crude.

Before the next session, traders will parse Trump’s promised briefing and look for confirmation from Caracas on who controls the military and the oil industry, and whether the U.S. operation broadens. Any move that constrains tankers, financing or payments would carry more weight for crude than battlefield headlines alone.

A separate supply lever comes on Sunday when eight OPEC+ members meet to review policy after pausing output hikes for the first quarter. OPEC and sources inside the producer group have said the panel is expected to keep production steady after oil prices fell more than 18% last year.  Reuters

U.S. inventory data is the next scheduled catalyst: the Energy Information Administration is set to release its weekly petroleum status report at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, a report traders use to track crude and fuel stockpiles. EIA has said it will roll out a new information release system for the report on Jan. 7.  EIA

Macro traders will also track the U.S. employment report on Jan. 9, with job growth and wages shaping the dollar and interest-rate expectations. A stronger dollar can make commodities priced in dollars more expensive for other buyers.  Bureau of Labor Statistics

Brent starts the week just above the $60 mark, a level traders will treat as a technical checkpoint after last year’s selloff. Unless Venezuelan exports are visibly disrupted, oversupply concerns and producer policy are likely to keep next week’s trade choppy and range-bound.

Near-Term Resistance Defines Bullish Reclaim Zone

The three-day high at $4,404 is key near-term resistance since a sustained rally above that level could lead to a continuation of the long-term bull trend. Sustained trade above that high would have gold back above the prior trend high of $4,381 from October and the 10-day average, now at $4,393.

Even though a potentially bearish inverted hammer will complete for Friday, a higher daily high and higher low was established for the first day in four. This shows a degree of support that shows the potential for further strengthening. If gold stays above Wednesday’s low of $4,274, a higher swing low is established. It takes on greater significance since it is aligned with the 20-day average.

First Pullback Tests Post-Breakout Structure

Gold is in its first pullback following a new record high breakout in late-December to $4,550. Dynamic support was seen near the 20-day average since mid-November and is being tested once again. The price area near the 20-day line is also indicated as possible support by a top trend channel line. A second upside breakout of the channel was sustained in December, leading to a new trend high. So, the current pullback is both the first since the new trend high and for the channel breakout.

Upside Targets and Downside Risk Levels Identified

The expectation is that support will hold, leading to further strengthening. Above $4,404 and gold targets a $4,516 to $4,578 price zone for potential resistance. On the downside, a break below $4,274 eliminates a higher swing low and puts the 50-day line in site at $4,180.

For a look at all of today’s economic events, check out our economic calendar.