- Gold fading from $2,900 after earlier failed attempts to reclaim the level on Monday.
- Geopolitical headlines will drive markets this week with headlines around Ukraine.
- A daily close above $2,900 would result in more upside for Gold this week.
Gold’s price (XAU/USD) is softening a touch halfway through the European trading session on Monday, below $2,900 at the time of writing. While United States (US) markets are closed due to the President’s Day bank holiday, the Federal Reserve (Fed) is not. On a rather windstill trading day, no less than three Fed speakers will issue comments in an otherwise empty macroeconomic calendar.
Meanwhile, the weekend was filled again with several geopolitical news and comments. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet each other in Saudi Arabia to discuss peace within Ukraine. Neither Ukraine nor Europe are invited to these talks, while both US and Russian officials are already underway.
Daily digest market movers: Tariff talks and Ukraine deal
- Market participants are waiting for more insights on President Trump’s reciprocal tariff plans, which could heighten global trade tensions. Next to that, levies on automobiles would be coming as soon as April 2, Bloomberg reports.
- If Senator Cynthia Lummis’ proposal becomes more concrete, Bitcoin could join Gold. The senator suggested adding Bitcoin to the US reserves on Sunday, highlighting the blockchain network’s transparency and accessibility.
- At 14:30 GMT, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Patrick Harker delivers a speech on the economic outlook at the Central Banking Series Conference at the University of the Bahamas in Nassau.
- At 15:20 GMT, Fed Governor Michelle W. Bowman delivers brief remarks on the economy and bank regulation at the American Bankers Association (ABA) Conference for Community Bankers in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Closing off this Monday, at 23:00 GMT, Fed Governor Christopher J. Waller speaks on the economic outlook at the UNSW Macroeconomic Workshop in Sydney, Australia.
Technical Analysis: Trimming down
Gold recovers and trades back above $2,900 on Monday following the near 1.5% decline on Friday. However, keep in mind that US bond markets are closed on Monday due to the President’s Day bank holiday. Look out for the headlines on Ukraine and possible new announcements on tariffs.
The first support level on Monday, the S1 support, stands at $2,859. Further down, the S2 support at $2,836 should act as a safeguard and prevent any additional declines to the more significant $2,790 level (October 31, 2024, high).
On the upside, the Daily Pivot at $2,899 is the first level to reclaim again. Next, the R1 resistance at $2,922 is the first level that needs to be recovered, followed by the R2 resistance at $2,962. Further up, the $3,000 psychological level could be next.
XAU/USD: Daily Chart
Tariffs FAQs
Tariffs are customs duties levied on certain merchandise imports or a category of products. Tariffs are designed to help local producers and manufacturers be more competitive in the market by providing a price advantage over similar goods that can be imported. Tariffs are widely used as tools of protectionism, along with trade barriers and import quotas.
Although tariffs and taxes both generate government revenue to fund public goods and services, they have several distinctions. Tariffs are prepaid at the port of entry, while taxes are paid at the time of purchase. Taxes are imposed on individual taxpayers and businesses, while tariffs are paid by importers.
There are two schools of thought among economists regarding the usage of tariffs. While some argue that tariffs are necessary to protect domestic industries and address trade imbalances, others see them as a harmful tool that could potentially drive prices higher over the long term and lead to a damaging trade war by encouraging tit-for-tat tariffs.
During the run-up to the presidential election in November 2024, Donald Trump made it clear that he intends to use tariffs to support the US economy and American producers. In 2024, Mexico, China and Canada accounted for 42% of total US imports. In this period, Mexico stood out as the top exporter with $466.6 billion, according to the US Census Bureau. Hence, Trump wants to focus on these three nations when imposing tariffs. He also plans to use the revenue generated through tariffs to lower personal income taxes.
