Gold drew renewed interest in Friday’s Asian session as investors sought shelter amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty. The ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe and renewed unrest in the Middle East have amplified risk aversion, keeping safe-haven demand steady.
Market participants remain alert to potential supply disruptions and escalating tensions, factors that traditionally reinforce the appeal of gold.
Silver also tracked the broader safe-haven bid, with demand supported by its dual role as both a precious and industrial metal. Analysts note that geopolitical instability has coincided with firmer demand from the renewable energy and electronics sectors, helping silver sustain upward momentum despite currency headwinds.
While geopolitical drivers underpin gold and silver, a stronger U.S. Dollar continues to cap upside moves. The Dollar Index has stabilized after hitting multi-year lows, buoyed by the Federal Reserve’s careful stance on policy. This week, the Fed delivered its first rate cut since December 2024, lowering the federal funds rate by 25 basis points.
However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that inflation risks remain tilted to the upside, tempering market expectations of rapid or aggressive easing.
His remarks echoed a cautious approach, balancing the need to support growth with the goal of containing price pressures. That stance has lent support to the dollar, limiting the performance of non-yielding assets such as gold and silver.
Recent U.S. economic data has further reinforced the dollar’s rebound, adding another layer of resistance to precious metals. Weekly jobless claims fell to 231,000, easing concerns about labor market softness.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index climbed to 23.2 in September, its strongest reading since January, signaling resilient business activity.
This combination of stronger economic indicators and the Fed’s cautious tone has curbed investor appetite for gold and silver at higher levels.
While safe-haven demand remains a critical driver amid geopolitical instability, traders are balancing those flows against a firmer dollar backdrop, leaving precious metals in a consolidative phase heading into next week.
Gold consolidates near $3,656, holding support at $3,640–$3,631, while silver steadies at $42.18 above $41.93 support. Momentum favors cautious upside, targeting $3,685 for gold and $42.97 for silver.
Gold is trading near $3,656, moving inside a broad rising channel but facing pressure at the 50-EMA, which is capping upside momentum. The structure shows a recent rejection from $3,685, followed by a pullback that tested the lower boundary near $3,640.
Price is now consolidating around the mid-range, with the RSI sitting close to 49, reflecting neutral momentum after dipping from higher levels. If gold fails to reclaim $3,670, sellers could push it toward $3,631, with deeper support at $3,596.
On the upside, a break above $3,685 would revive buying interest, targeting $3,706. For now, gold holds a cautious tone, with direction hinging on the $3,640–$3,670 zone.
Silver is trading near $42.18 after rebounding from the 50-EMA at $41.92 and holding above the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement level at $41.93. The chart shows a recovery from $41.35, with price now testing the 0.382 level at $42.18.
If bulls can sustain momentum, the next resistance sits at $42.48, followed by the recent swing high at $42.97. RSI is around 56, suggesting moderate strength without overbought conditions.
On the downside, a break under $41.93 could expose $41.69, with deeper support near $41.35. As long as silver holds above $41.70, the bias leans upward, with potential to retest $42.50–$43.00.
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.