Gold Prices Hit Record Highs, FOMC Decision Could Fuel Further Rallies

Gold Prices Hit Record Highs, FOMC Decision Could Fuel Further Rallies

Fundamental Forecast for Gold: Neutral

• Gold prices continue to hit record-highs
• Technical forecasts point to further rallies in Gold prices

Gold prices set fresh record-highs amidst broader US Dollar weakness, but the precious metal actually remained relatively unchanged against other major currencies. The US Dollar itself fell against all but two G10 counterparts and remains stuck in a fairly pronounced downtrend against commodity currencies such as the Australian and Canadian Dollars. That gold would set fresh all-time highs in USD terms may subsequently come of little surprise, but that does not take away from the fact that the trend favors further gains in precious metals.

The key question rolling forward is whether we can expect the US currency to continue lower through coming trade. According to the most recent CFTC Commitment of Traders data, Non-Commercial traders are the most net-short the USD since July. Medium-term trends and sentiment suggests risks remain to the downside for the Greenback. Yet increasingly one-sided positioning warns that any subsequent corrections could come quickly as traders cover their USD-short positions. Gold prices may likewise see noteworthy volatility on the upcoming US Federal Open Market Committee interest rate announcement due Tuesday afternoon. All eyes will be on whether the central bank hints at renewed efforts to boost monetary supply via Quantitative Easing. Continued signs of slow economic growth and languishing employment trends have heightened speculation the FOMC will move to “Quantitative Easing Part 2”. Given that any such moves would be inherently inflationary, we could once again see gold prices rally substantially on any such announcement. How the US Dollar trades in the week ahead may ultimately decide the medium-term trajectory for gold prices. - DR