The direction of the market over the near-term is likely to be determined by trader reaction to $1823.50.
Gold futures fell 1% early Monday before a successful test of a key technical support zone stopped the price slide. The catalyst driving the market lower was optimism for a faster economic recovery amid the imminent rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Helping to limit losses, however, were hopes for further fiscal and monetary stimulus from the Fed and government, respectively.
At 14:35 GMT, February Comex gold futures are trading $1840.30, down $3.30 or -0.18%.
The main trend is down according to the daily swing chart. A trade through $1879.80 will change the main trend to up. A move through $1767.20 will signal a resumption of the downtrend.
The short-term range is $1973.30 to $1767.20. Its retracement zone at $1870.30 to $1894.60 is resistance. This zone stopped the buying at $1979.80 on December 8.
The minor range is $1767.20 to $1879.80. Its retracement zone at $1823.50 to $1810.20 stopped the selling earlier today at $1820.00.
The major support is the long-term retracement zone at $1780.50 to $1705.20.
The direction of the market over the near-term is likely to be determined by trader reaction to $1823.50.
A sustained move over $1823.50 will indicate the presence of aggressive counter-trend buyers. The first potential upside target is a minor pivot at $1849.90. Overcoming this level could drive the gold market into $1870.30, followed by $1879.80 and $1894.60.
A sustained move under $1823.50 will signal the presence of sellers. The first target is the minor Fibonacci level at $1810.20. This is a potential trigger point for an acceleration to the downside with the first target the long-term 50% level at $1780.50, followed by the main bottom at $1767.20.
We’ve said for days that trader reaction to $1823.50 to $1810.20 will likely determine the near-term direction of the market. Aggressive counter-trend buyers are coming into to try to form a potentially bullish secondary higher bottom. Sellers, on the other hand, will be trying to drive the market through this zone.
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James Hyerczyk is a U.S. based seasoned technical analyst and educator with over 40 years of experience in market analysis and trading, specializing in chart patterns and price movement. He is the author of two books on technical analysis and has a background in both futures and stock markets.