Gold and silver prices pause rally, market awaits FOMC meeting
NE YORK (March 21) Precious metals are continuing the retracement initiated on Monday as the financial markets try to settle down from the huge stress seen over the last few days. Gold price (XAU/USD) has pulled back to trading below $1,970 at the time of writing, from a peak above $2,000 early on Monday. Silver price action (XAG/USD) has been a bit quieter, with a relative monthly high below $23 achieved on Monday and a 1% retracement since.
UBS agreement to buy Credit Suisse and coordinated central bank action to inject liquidity into the system are the actions that have somewhat relieved the extreme risk-off mood seen since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
Gold price next move will be all about the Federal Reserve decision
Tensions are far from over, though, as the Federal Reserve interest rate decision on Wednesday is a crucial one to understand how the biggest central bank in the world understands the dilemma between combating relentless inflation and alleviating the stress the international banking system is suffering.
Institutional market strategists believe that precious metals, particularly Gold, have more room to continue rallying, as any dovish hints in the FOMC statement and projections (also known as the dot plot) will provide a bullish impetus for the bright metal. ANZ Bank analysts write:
“Despite banking regulators rushing to shore up market confidence, the uncertain macro backdrop continues to entice buying.”
“All eyes now shift to the Fed’s two-day meeting. Any dovish commentary should help support the precious metals sector.”
Technically, bank analysts from Société Générale see the current Gold price retracement as just a minor pullback and project the uptrend to continue:
“Gold is expected to head gradually towards the upper part of its range since 2020 at $2,055/$2,075. This is a key resistance zone; overcoming it could mean the onset of a larger uptrend.”
On the other hand, the TD Securities team of strategists foresee the retracement to extend back to the $1,953 support, as the Federal Reserve will probably be moderate in its decision on Wednesday:
“Before any move above $2,000 becomes sustainable, there will need to be evidence that rates will drop and that the US central bank will allow inflation to stay above a target for a while, but much closer to 2 percent.”
Gold trading volume on the rise
The huge rally (around 10% in the span of a week) seen in Gold price has been highlighted by surging open interest and volume in the futures markets. According to data from the CME Group, the volume of contracts negotiated rose from levels around 13K in the first week of March to an average above 40K in the past seven trading days.
Silver price technical outlook is also bullish
Silver price has not made the same headlines as its brightest counterpart in Gold, but the second-highest traded metal has also profited from the banking crisis. The technical scenario in XAG/USD remains with bullish potential intact despite the recent retracement. Haresh Menghani, Market Analyst at FXStreet, writes:
“The recent breakout through the $21.65-$21.70 confluence resistance was seen as a fresh trigger for bullish traders. Furthermore, a subsequent move and acceptance above the 50% Fibonacci retracement level of the recent sharp pullback from a multi-month peak further add credence to the constructive outlook. This, along with bullish oscillators on 4-hour and daily charts, suggests that the path of least resistance for the XAG/USD is to the upside.
Hence, any subsequent dip towards the overnight swing low, around the $22.20 area, which coincides with the 50$ Fibo. level, could be seen as a buying opportunity.”
FXStreet
