Spot Gold (XAUUSD) settled at $4114.12 last week, down $139.85 or 3.29%, ending a nine-week winning streak. The market spiked to a fresh all-time high at $4381.44 early in the week but closed lower, forming a weekly closing price reversal top. This pattern doesn’t mark a trend change by itself, but if confirmed with follow-through selling this week, it would signal a shift in momentum and raise the probability of a multi-week correction.
The setup follows a sharp upside extension driven by Fed cut bets and global central bank demand. With sentiment stretched and no new catalyst to push higher, traders locked in gains into strength. The pattern now puts gold at risk of a pullback — not because the trend has broken, but because the technical structure may be starting to transition if buyers don’t step back in.
Friday’s inflation report came in cooler than expected. Core CPI rose just 0.2% month-over-month and 3.0% annually, reinforcing the view that the Federal Reserve will cut rates by 25 basis points at its October 28–29 meeting. The cut would lower the fed funds range to 3.75%–4.00%, and markets are still leaning toward a second cut in December.
Despite the dovish data, gold couldn’t regain traction. Broader risk appetite picked up as equities rallied on soft inflation and optimism around U.S.–China trade talks. Treasury yields climbed early in the week, and the dollar gained modestly, both contributing to gold’s downside pressure. The inability to hold weekly gains suggests buyers are now waiting for deeper value zones to re-enter.
The Fed’s easing path is now driven by labor market risks rather than inflation. Job creation has slowed sharply, with August’s payrolls missing estimates and prior data revised lower by over 900,000 jobs. Fed Chair Powell has framed the cuts as preemptive — aimed at preserving employment, even if inflation remains slightly above target.
This policy pivot still favors gold in the bigger picture, but right now the market is correcting. Traders are watching whether the Fed adds any signal of continued easing beyond October. If Powell sounds cautious or data-dependent, gold may stay under pressure short-term.
The closing price reversal top is not yet confirmed, but if sellers follow through this week, downside targets come into focus. A 2–3 week correction could unfold, with $3846.50 as the next likely target, followed by the 61.8% retracement at $3720.25. Until those levels are tested or the Fed delivers a strong dovish surprise, gold remains vulnerable to further profit-taking.
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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.