The potential for gold prices to rise in 2024 is being whittled away by a value in the US dollar and signals from the Federal Reserve about future rate hikes, which caused gold to slip over 1% to around $2,048 per ounce. After hitting a resistance level of $2,068 per ounce, gold prices are now stabilizing in the $2,048 range due to profit-taking and the rise of the US dollar index (DXY) posting its biggest daily gain since July, making dollar-denominated bullion more expensive for foreign buyers, which was further supported by rising US yields.
Despite the recent decline in gold prices, the future outlook for gold remains positive. Expectations are high that the Federal Reserve will cut US interest rates in 2024, which could lead to a boost in gold prices later in the year. There are expectations for potential escalation in the Red Sea that could play a role in supporting gold prices as well. Some analysts predict significant gains in 2024 if central banks actually begin to ease their policies, a rebound from its first annual rise since 2020.
Technically, the trend of gold prices may not be broken without a move towards the support levels of $2,000 and $1,985 per ounce, respectively, but the market is still receiving positive momentum from increasing global geopolitical tensions and the start of the global central banks’ abandonment of their tightening policies. There are also important considerations for the reaction to the release of US employment figures on Friday, as it will have a strong impact on the future policy of the US Federal Reserve as well as the dollar.
Gold trading platforms would be worth considering if investors want to capitalize on the potential fluctuations in the gold market throughout the year.