GOLD PER TOLA RATE IN PAKISTAN: Gold price in Pakistan edged higher on Monday, with 24-karat gold being sold at Rs252,700 per tola, up Rs200. FRIDAY CLOSING!
The Karachi Sarafa Association reported the price of 24-karat gold at Rs216,650 per 10-gram, up Rs172.
Gold price (XAU/USD) is going through a moderate pullback on Monday’s European morning, weighed by a stronger US Dollar (USD), after finding resistance around the $2,400 earlier in the day. News reports that the Middle East conflict might spill into Lebanon are keeping investors on their heels and providing a competitive advantage for the safe-haven USD.
Geopolitical risks are overshadowing the highlight of the week, which is the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) meeting, due on Wednesday. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Prices Index data for June, as seen on Friday, showed that inflation remains sticky, although at levels near the central bank’s 2% target. Investors remain hopeful that the easing cycle will start in September, and that the Fed might give hints on that direction after this week’s meeting.
On Tuesday, the US JOLTs Job Openings data for June and the Conference Board’s Consumer Sentiment Index for July are expected to show a moderate softening, adding to the case of a September rate cut.
Daily digest market movers: Gold buyers take a break as the fundamental picture muddles
• Increasing geopolitical concerns, with Israel considering an attack in Lebanon, are fuelling the safe-haven US Dollar and weighing on Gold.
• US benchmark 10-year Treasury yields are trading lower on the back of increasing hopes that the Fed will start cutting rates in September.
• The CME Group’s Fed Watch tool is pricing a 95% chance that the Fed will keep rates on hold on Wednesday and a 100% chance of rate cuts in September.
• On Tuesday, the Conference Board is expected to show that the Consumer Sentiment Index declined to 99.5 from 100.4 in the previous month.
• Also on Tuesday, the US JOLTS Job Openings are expected to show a decline to 8.03 million in June from the 8.14 million openings seen in May.
Technical analysis: XAU/USD is capped below $2,400 with the immediate bullish bias intact
XAU/USD’s recovery from last week’s lows at around $2,350 has been capped at $2,400. This is an important resistance area as the 100-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at the 4-hour chart meets downtrend resistance from the 17 July highs at that level, but downside attempts remain limited for now.
The intraday RSI shows a moderate positive momentum, with the $2,380 level holding bears for now. Below here, the next target is the July 25 low, at $2,350. On the upside, a confirmation above $2,400 would cancel the broader bearish structure and put $2,430 into focus.
Similarly, the price of 22-karat gold was quoted higher at Rs198,595 per 10-gram.
On the other hand, silver prices remained unchanged in the domestic market, with 24-karat silver being sold at Rs2,860 per tola and Rs2,452 per 10-gram.
On the global front, spot gold traded near $2,390 an ounce, down $6.5 or 0.27% from the previous session.
