Happy Friday, traders. Welcome to our weekly market wrap, where we look back at the last five trading days, focusing on the market news, economic data, and headlines that had the greatest impact on gold prices and other key correlated assets—and that may continue to do so in the future.
So, what kind of week has it been?
Here's what you need to know:
- Gold spent most of the week locked between support near $4,000/oz and resistance around $4,100/oz. A brief bounce on Wednesday drew in bargain hunters, but neither buyers nor sellers established a lasting breakout.
- Concerns that a crippled global oil supply chain could accelerate inflation remained the market's dominant pressure point. That backdrop continued to weigh on gold by reinforcing expectations for higher inflation and interest rates.
- The Federal Reserve remains the most important near-term input for gold, but uncertainty is elevated under Chairman Warsh. Markets assign a probability of more than 80% to a hold at next week's meeting, while the Fed's retreat from forward guidance may amplify volatility around the announcement.
- Next week's key catalysts arrive on Wednesday with the July FOMC interest rate decision and on Thursday with the June PCE Price Index. A break below $3,985 could expose gold to a sharper decline, while the path toward $4,250 remains difficult without meaningful relief from the US-Iran war and oil-market stress.
So, What Kind of a Week Has It Been?
Gold trading has been highly range-bound for much of the last five days, barring a brief acceleration on Wednesday as bargain hunters stepped in following a bounce off $4,000/oz. As a result, there may be limited value in reading too much into the yellow metal's session-to-session fluctuations.
The week's main takeaway is that the threat of accelerating global inflation, driven by a crippled global oil supply chain, continues to weigh on gold. In the absence of new inputs capable of provoking either a rally or an aggressive break lower, the $4,000 level in spot markets continues to act as a repeatedly tested floor. At the same time, it serves as a gravitational force that has prevented sustained bids above $4,100. Should the current state of play remain unchanged, next week's July FOMC meeting may provide a volatile pivot point.
Fed Uncertainty Keeps Gold Pinned Near $4,000
The Federal Reserve's next move—both its timing and direction—remains the dominant input for gold and several other major asset classes. Less than a week before the next FOMC decision, markets currently assign the highest probability—more than 80%, based on Fed funds futures—to a hold. However, we are still early in the Warsh Fed era. The new chairman's record of hawkish views in the face of potential inflation spikes, combined with a marketplace still learning how he will approach policymaking, means that even seemingly certain outcomes feel less secure. In addition, Warsh's effective abandonment of forward guidance as a central-bank tool opens the door to increased volatility around major announcements.
Oil Near $100 Keeps the Inflation Threat Alive
After the Fed's decision has come and gone next week, the tremendous instability created by the ongoing US-Iran war will remain. Expectations and guidance based on announcements from the US executive branch will also remain unreliable, contributing to the generally downward pressure on gold prices. As oil prices move closer to $100 per barrel, the expected transmission mechanism—higher oil, higher inflation, and higher rates—appears to gain momentum the longer it remains the dominant driver of macroeconomic projections. Until meaningful and persistent relief emerges, gold's prospects for a rally toward even $4,250/oz remain anemic, while the threat of a sharp move lower on a break below $3,985 looms large.
Looking Ahead
As they have for most of this week, thanks to a sparse economic data calendar, market participants will turn their attention next week to Wednesday's FOMC interest rate decision, followed by Thursday's June PCE Price Index.
In the meantime, traders, I hope you can get out and safely enjoy your weekend for the next couple of days. After that, I'll see you back here next week for another market recap.
