Gold traded in a narrow band during Asian hours on Wednesday after recovering from a recent one-and-a-half-week low. The metal drew support from July U.S. inflation data that aligned with market expectations. Headline CPI held steady at 2.7% year-over-year, while core CPI climbed to 3.1% from 2.9% in June.
Monthly gains of 0.2% for CPI and 0.3% for core CPI met forecasts, helping to temper concerns about persistent inflation. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, traders are still pricing in the likelihood of at least two Federal Reserve rate cuts before year-end, with September seen as the first move. This outlook weighed on the U.S. dollar, providing a boost to non-yielding gold.
Silver rose 0.74% to $38.19, buoyed by the weaker dollar and firming industrial demand prospects. Analysts cited steady manufacturing activity and improving global trade flows as additional supports for the white metal.
Beyond monetary policy, easing trade tensions added to the macro backdrop. President Trump extended the U.S.–China tariff truce for three months, while market participants looked ahead to a U.S.–Russia summit later in the week as a possible step toward broader diplomatic progress.
These developments improved global risk sentiment, reflected in fresh record highs for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 surpassing 43,000 for the first time.
While supportive for growth assets, this risk-on tone curtailed safe-haven flows into gold, offsetting part of the benefit from the softer dollar. “Gold remains underpinned by Fed policy expectations, but strong equity performance is drawing capital elsewhere,” one commodity strategist noted.
Gold may consolidate in the near term, holding above $3,336 support while testing key moving averages. A breakout above $3,376 could target $3,409, but failure risks a pullback.
Gold is trading at $3,359, attempting to recover after finding support at $3,336 along an ascending trendline from late July. Price is testing the confluence of the 50-EMA ($3,360.61) and 100-EMA ($3,360.24), with the next resistance level at $3,376.47. A decisive break above this zone could open the way toward $3,409.11.
The RSI at 52.70 indicates neutral momentum, with room to extend gains if buyers maintain control. Failure to clear the EMAs may trigger a pullback toward $3,336, with further downside risk to $3,312.
Silver is trading at $38.40, extending gains after rebounding from trendline support near $38.02. Price has reclaimed both the 50-EMA ($37.95) and 100-EMA ($37.89), reinforcing short-term bullish momentum. Immediate resistance is at $38.49, a break of which could open the path toward $38.97 and $39.53.
The RSI at 66.35 is approaching overbought territory, suggesting momentum is strong but caution is warranted for potential pullbacks. If resistance holds, support remains at $38.02, followed by $37.52.
Arslan is a finance MBA and also holds an MPhil degree in behavioral finance. An expert in financial analysis and investor psychology, Arslan uses his academic background to bring valuable insights about market sentiment and whether instruments are likely to be overbought or oversold.