GBP/USD: Bullish bias stays intact, 1.13 in the crosshairs

GBP/USD has gathered further bullish momentum. Pound bulls eye 1.1300 next, 

Buyers retain control of cable’s action

“On the upside, 1.1300 (Fibonacci 61.8% retracement of the latest downtrend, 100-period SMA) aligns as the next target. In case buyers flip that level into support, the pair could continue to push higher toward 1.1400 (static level) and 1.1500 (200-period SMA).”

“First support is located at 1.1130 (Fibonacci 50% retracement) before 1.1100 (psychological level) and 1.1000 (psychological level, 50-period SMA, Fibonacci 38.2% retracement).”

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Germany's Lindner: Not following British down the path of expansionary fiscal policy

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Thursday that they will mobilise Germany's economic strength when necessary, as reported by Reuters.

Regarding the German government's decision to implement a price brake on gas and electricity while providing funding of up to €200 billion for an "economic defence shield," Linder said that these measures should not fuel inflation.

"We are not following the British down the path of expansionary fiscal policy," the minister explained.

Market reaction

The EUR/USD pair retreated from session highs following these comments and was last seen trading at 0.9705, where it was down 0.33% on a daily basis.

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US: International trade deficit narrows to $87.3 billion in August

US international trade deficit narrowed by $29 billion in August.

US Dollar Index clings to small daily gains above 114.00.

The data published by the US Census Bureau showed on Wednesday that the US international trade deficit declined by $2.9 billion to $87.3 billion in August from $90.2 billion in July. 

"Exports of goods for August were $179.8 billion, $1.7 billion less than July exports," the publication read. "Imports of goods for August were $267.1 billion, $4.6 billion less than July imports."

Moreover, the report revealed that the Wholesale Inventories rose by 1.3% in August, higher than the market expectation for an increase of 0.7%.

Market reaction

The US Dollar Index showed no immediate reaction to this report and was last seen posting small daily gains at 114.25.

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GBP/USD: Vulnerable to a break of parity later this year – ING

There has been a loose discussion in the market about the prospect of GBP/USD hitting parity for some months. Economists at ING believe that the pair could break under 1.00 this year.

EUR/GBP can make a run towards the March 2020 high of 0.95

“At this stage, we think UK authorities will probably just have to let sterling find its right level. The UK has a reserve currency so it can always issue debt – it’s just a question of the right price.”

“We are still bullish on the dollar this year as Fed leads the deflationary charge and global growth slows. That means GBP/USD is now vulnerable to a break of parity later this year, while – quite unexpectedly – EUR/GBP can make a run towards the March 2020 high of 0.95, with outside risk to the 2008 high of 0.98.”

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Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD rebounds from YTD low, upside potential seems limited

Gold reverses an intraday slide to its lowest level since April 2020 amid a modest USD pullback.

Recession fears, a softer risk tone further extend some support to the safe-haven commodity.

Bets for more aggressive Fed rate hikes to limit the USD downfall and cap gains for the metal.

Gold stages a goodish bounce from its lowest level since April 2020 touched earlier this Monday and climbs to a fresh daily high during the early European session. Bulls, however, struggle to capitalize on the move beyond the $1,650 level and remain at the mercy of the US dollar price dynamics.

In fact, the USD Index, which measures the greenback's performance against a basket of currencies, surrenders its early gains to a fresh two-decade high amid a recovery in the European currencies. This, in turn, assists the dollar-denominated gold to attract some buyers near the $1,626 region. Apart from this, the prevalent cautious market mood, amid worries about a deeper global economic downturn, turns out to be another factor offering support to the safe-haven precious metal.

The attempted recovery, however, lacks follow-through buying, warranting caution before positioning for any meaningful upside. The Fed last week delivered another supersized rate hike and signalled that it will likely undertake more aggressive increases at its upcoming meetings to tame inflation. A more hawkish stance adopted by the US central bank remains supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields and should limit any meaningful USD corrective slide, at least for the time being.

The yield on the rate-sensitive 2-year US government bond stands tall near a 15-year high and the benchmark 10-year Treasury note hits the highest in 11 years. This might further contribute to keeping a lid on the non-yielding gold. In the absence of any relevant economic data from the US, traders will take cues from speeches by influential FOMC members. This, along with the US bond yields, the USD price dynamics and the broader risk sentiment might provide some impetus to gold.

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GBP/USD slumps to fresh multi-decade lows below 1.1050

GBP/USD is down over 300 pips on the day.

The risk-averse market environment provides a boost to the greenback.

Disappointing data releases from the UK weigh heavily on GBP.

Following a consolidation phase during the Asian trading hours, GBP/USD came under heavy bearish pressure and lost more than 200 pips on the day. As of writing, the pair was trading at its lowest level since 1985 at 1.1045, down nearly 2% on a daily basis.

Earlier in the day, the data from the UK revealed that the business activity in the private sector continued to contract in early September with the preliminary Composite PMI dropping to 48.4 from 49.6 in August. This reading came in below the market expectation of 49.

Furthermore, the Confederation of British Industry's latest Distributive Trades Survey revealed that the Retail Sales Balance plunged to -20 in September from +37 in August and fueled the GBP selloff.

In addition to dismal UK data, the intense flight to safety provides a boost to the dollar and further weighs on the pair. US stock index futures were last seen losing between 1.3% and 1.6% on the day, suggesting that safe-haven flows are likely to continue to dominate the financial markets.

The US economic docket will feature S&P Global's Manufacturing and Services PMI reports later in the day.

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EUR/USD could stage a recovery if it manages to flip 0.9880 into support

EUR/USD recovered modestly during the European trading hours. The pair needs to reclaim 0.9880 to extend the rebound.

The dollar could lose interest in case US stocks rebound

“In case Wall Street's main indexes gain traction after the opening bell, the dollar could deepen its downward correction and allow EUR/USD to continue to stretch higher.”

“0.9880 (former support, static level) forms initial resistance. If EUR/USD manages to rise above that level and starts using it as support, it could target 0.9900 (psychological level), 0.9950 (static level, 20-period SMA on the four-hour chart) and 0.9980 (100-period SMA).”

“On the downside, 0.9800 (psychological level, static level) aligns as first support ahead of 0.9750 (static level from October 2002) and 0.9700 (psychological level).”

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Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD lifted by Putin, Fed to knock it down – TDS

Gold capitalized on safe-haven flows and climbed above $1,670 as investors seek refuge as Russian President Vladimir Putin announces military mobilization. But eyes are on the Federal Reserve. A hawkish hike is set to weigh on the yellow metal, strategists at TD Securities report.

FOMC to provide more hawkish signals

“Gold is catching a safe-haven bid as Russia has escalated the war in Ukraine with Putin declaring a partial mobilization in Russia and threatening use of nuclear weapons. Nonetheless, it is Fed day, where aggressive Fed expectations are being priced in.”

“The persistence of inflation continues to support an aggressive effort by the Fed, and we expect the FOMC to deliver its third consecutive 75 bps rate hike, bringing the policy stance decidedly above its estimate of the longer-run neutral level. We also look for the Committee to provide more hawkish signals through the update of its economic projections and for Chair Powell to build on his Jackson Hole message.” 

“While prices are certainly weak, precious metals' price action could still have further to fall as the restrictive rates regime is set to last for longer. Indeed, gold and silver prices have tended to display a systematic underperformance when markets expect the real level of the Fed funds rate to rise above the neutral rate, as estimated by Laubach-Williams.”

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GBP/USD eases from daily top amid modest USD bounce from one-week low, holds above 1.1400

GBP/USD gains some positive traction on Tuesday, though the uptick lacks bullish conviction.

A goodish USD rebound from a one-week low turns out to be a key factor capping the upside.

Any meaningful downfall seems unlikely ahead of the FOMC and the BoE meetings this week.

The GBP/USD pair builds on the previous day's recovery move from the vicinity of mid-1.1300s, or its lowest level since 1985 and edges higher through the first half of trading on Tuesday. The pair stick to modest intraday gains through the early European session, though seems to struggle to capitalize on the move beyond mid-1.1400s and retreats a few pips from the daily peak.

A combination of factors assists the US dollar to attract some dip-buying following an early slide to a one-week low, which, in turn, acts as a headwind for the GBP/USD pair. Expectations that the Federal Reserve will stick to its faster rate-hiking cycle to tame inflation remain supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields. In fact, the US central bank is widely expected to deliver another supersized 75 bps rate hike at the end of a two-day meeting on Wednesday.

Furthermore, the markets have been pricing in a small chance of a full 100 bps liftoff, which remains supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields. The yield on the rate-sensitive two-year US government bond rose to its highest level since November 2007 and the 10-year Treasury note reached a level not seen since April 2011 on Monday. Apart from this, growing recession fears lend support to the safe-haven greenback and also contribute to capping the GBP/USD pair.

Market participants also seem reluctant to place aggressive bullish bets around the British pound amid a bleak outlook for the UK economy. This, to a larger extent, overshadows the prospects for more aggressive rate hikes by the Bank of England, which, so far, has failed to impress bulls or provide any meaningful impetus to the GBP/USD pair. The downside, however, seems cushioned as traders might prefer to move to the sidelines ahead of the key central bank event risks.

The Fed is scheduled to announce its monetary policy decision at the end of a two-day meeting on Wednesday. This will be followed by the BoE meeting on Thursday, which should help determine the next leg of a directional move for the GBP/USD pair. In the meantime, traders on Tuesday might take cues from the US housing market data, which along with the US bond yields and the broader risk sentiment, will drive the USD demand and provide some impetus to the major.

From a technical perspective the pair continues to rest on strong support from a the base of a multi-month falling channel at around the mid 1.13s, and it would require a daily close or open below the lower channel line for an acceleration of the bear trend. In the meantime – and prior to the main event risk of Wednesday's Fed meeting – traders are likely to content themselves with playing the bounce off this key support, scalping short runs as the market revolves.  

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GBP/USD: Charts point to a test of the all-time low at 1.0520 – BBH

Sterling is underperforming after weak retail sales data and traded near 1.1350, the lowest since 1985. Economists at BBH note that the GBP/USD pair could plummet to the all-time low at 1.0520.

Sterling pounded on anniversary of Black Wednesday

“Headline sales fell -1.6% MoM vs. -0.5% expected and a revised 0.4% (was 0.3%) in July, while sales ex-auto fuel also fell -1.6% MoM vs. 0.4% in July. As a result, the YoY rates fell to -5.4% and -5.0%, respectively. The data confirm what we all know already, and that is the economy is sliding into recession. How long and how deep this downturn will remain a great source of debate.”

“We would be remiss if we did not mention that today is the anniversary of Black Wednesday. Thirty years ago, sterling was unceremoniously ejected from the Exchange Rate Mechanism. Cable is marking the occasion by trading at its weakest level since 1985 near 1.1350. There is literally nothing in the charts until the February 1985 all-time low near 1.0520.”

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ECB's Centeno: No sign of inflation expectations de-anchoring

European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Mario Centeno said on Thursday that he does not see any signs of a de-anchoring of inflation expectations, per Reuters.

"The monetary policy must act at the margin in as small steps as possible," Centeno added and further noted that he expects the effects of unprecedented supply shocks to ease.

Market reaction

These comments don't seem to be having a significant impact on the shared currency's performance against its major rivals. As of writing, EUR/USD was up 0.15% on the day at 0.9991.

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Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD remains poised to test $1,688 key support

Gold price is licking its wounds near $1,700 after Tuesday’s sharp sell off.

The US dollar retreats amid a USD/JPY slide and a pause in the yields rally.

XAU/USD looks south amid a wall of powerful resistance levels.

Gold price is consolidating the previous sell off, as bears are taking a breather before resuming the next leg lower. A pause in the US Treasury yields rally combined with a broad US dollar retreat is offering a temporary reprieve to gold buyers. The bright metal remains vulnerable amid the revival of hopes for aggressive Fed tightening in the coming months. The US inflation data outpaced estimates and squashed the ‘peak inflation’ narrative, suggesting that the Fed will continue with bigger and more rapid rate hikes to control inflation. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets are now pricing a 36% chance of a full percentage point Fed rate hike next week. Attention now turns towards the US key events in the second half of the week for fresh trading opportunities in the bullion.

Gold Price: Key levels to watch

The Technical Confluence Detector shows that the gold price is eyeing a firm break below the SMA5 four-hour at $1,702 to resume the bearish momentum towards the previous day’s low of $1,697.

Bears will then gear up for a test of the previous week’s low of $1,691, below which the convergence of the pivot point one-day S1 and Bollinger Band one-day Lower at $1,688 will be put at risk.

On the flip side, strong resistance is seen around $1,707, the confluence of the Fibonacci 61.8% one-week and the Fibonacci 23.6% one-day. Acceptance above the latter is needed to offer a fresh boost to XAU bulls.

The next relevant upside target is aligned at $1,710, the meeting point of the Fibonacci 38.2% one-day and SMA10 one-day. Further up, the intersection of the SMA5 one-day and the Fibonacci 38.2% one-week at $1,715 will be the level to beat for bulls.

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 Breaking: US annual CPI inflation declines to 8.3% in August vs. 8.1% expected

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this Tuesday that inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), decelerated to 8.3% on a yearly basis in August from 8.5% in the previous month. The reading was slightly above consensus estimates pointing to a decline to 8.1%. 

The Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose by 0.6% in August (0.3% anticipated) and climbed to 6.3% on yearly basis, up from 5.9% in July and 6.1% expected.

Follow our live coverage of the market reaction to US inflation data.

Market reaction

The US dollar catches aggressive bids in reaction to the stronger-than-expected CPI report and for now, seems to have stalled its recent sharp pullback from a two-decade high touched last week.

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Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD jumps closer to Friday’s swing high amid notable USD supply

• Gold catches fresh bids on Monday and turns positive for the second successive day.
• The prevalent USD selling bias turns out to be a key factor boosting the commodity.
• A positive risk tone, the prospects for more aggressive central banks continue to cap.

Gold attracts some dip-buying near the $1,712 area on Monday and turns positive for the second straight day. The XAU/USD refreshes its daily high, around the $1,726-$1,727 region during the European session and moves back closer to a one-and-half-week high touched on Friday.

The US dollar extends last week's sharp retracement slide and remains under intense selling pressure on the first day of a new week. In fact, the USD Index, which measures the greenback's performance against a basket of currencies, dives to a fresh monthly low and offers support to the dollar-denominated gold.

Given that the markets have already priced in a 75 bps Fed rate hike move in September, subdued action around the US Treasury bond yields turns out to be a key factor weighing on the greenback. Apart from this, growing worries about a deeper global economic downturn further contribute to driving flows towards safe-haven gold.

That said, a positive risk tone - as depicted by a generally upbeat mood around the equity markets - could act as a headwind for the precious metal. Furthermore, the prospects for a more aggressive policy tightening by major central banks warrant some caution before positioning for any further appreciating move for the non-yielding gold.

Investors might also prefer to move to the sidelines ahead of the latest US consumer inflation figures, due for release on Tuesday. The crucial US CPI report will influence the Fed's policy outlook and dictate the near-term USD trajectory. This, in turn, will help investors to determine the next leg of a directional move for gold.

In the meantime, the XAU/USD is more likely to enter a consolidation phase amid absent relevant market-moving economic data from the US. That said, the US bond yields, the USD price dynamics, along with the broader risk sentiment, might still provide some impetus to gold and allow traders to grab short-term opportunities.

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Malaysia: BNM hikes rates again – UOB

Senior Economist Julia Goh and Economist Loke Siew Ting at UOB Group review the latest interest rate decision by the BNM.

Key Takeaways

“As widely expected, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) raised the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) today (8 Sep) by 25bps to 2.50%. This marks the third back-to-back rate hike since BNM started the hiking cycle in May this year as the economy recovered at a stronger pace. To date, BNM has hiked 75bps, which partly reversed the 125bps of rate cuts since the start of the pandemic in Jan 2020.”

“In the latest monetary policy statement (MPS), BNM continues to expect the domestic economy to expand, supported by private sector spending amid the transition to endemicity, positive labour market conditions, resumption of tourism activities and investments. However, BNM cautioned that external demand is expected to moderate amid softer global growth. BNM expects inflation to peak in 3Q22 before moderating thereafter amid abating base effects and easing global commodity prices.”

“BNM highlighted that there is no ‘pre-set course’ and the monetary policy committee (MPC) will continue to assess developments and their impact on domestic inflation and growth. BNM also reiterated that any adjustments will be done in a ‘measured and gradual’ manner. We think BNM may have signalled a temporary pause for rate hikes pending forward-looking growth and inflation dynamics. As such, we maintain our OPR target at 2.50% by year-end, and 3.00% by mid-2023. The next and final monetary policy meeting for the year is on 2-3 Nov.”

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US: Weekly Initial Jobless Claims decline to 222K vs. 240K expected

Initial Jobless Claims fell by 6,000 in the week ending September 3.

US Dollar Index clings to small daily gains 109.50.

There were 222,000 initial jobless claims in the week ending September 3, the weekly data published by the US Department of Labor (DOL) showed on Thursday. This print followed the previous week's print of 228,000 (revised from 232,000) and came in better than the market expectation of 240,000.

Further details of the publication revealed that the advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1% and the 4-week moving average was 233,500, a decrease of 7,500 from the previous week's revised average.

"The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 27 was 1,473,000, an increase of 36,000 from the previous week's revised level," the DOL said.

Market reaction

The greenback stays resilient against its major rivals after this data with the US Dollar Index posting small daily gains at 109.60.

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EUR/USD remains unfazed around parity post-ECB rate decision

EUR/USD keeps the daily range around the parity zone.

ECB raised its key rates by 75 bps, matching previous estimates.

The ECB now sees the region’s economy expanding 3.1% in 2022.

The single currency now alternates gains with losses and motivates EUR/USD to keep hovering around the parity region after the ECB raised rates on Thursday.

EUR/USD now focuses on Lagarde

EUR/USD keeps the daily range after the ECB raised the interests rates by 75 bps, as widely expected. That said, the interest on the main refinancing operations, the interest rate on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility are now at 1.25%, 1.50% and 0.75%, respectively.

In its statement, the ECB predicts that further interest rate hikes are on the table over the next several meetings aimed at undermining demand and tackle upside risks in inflation expectations.

The updated macroeconomic projections now forecast inflation to rise at an average 8.1% this year, 5.5% in 2023 and 2.3% in 2024. Back to the economic growth, the bank’s staff now sees the region expanding 3.1% in 2022, 0.9% in the next year and 1.9% in 2024.

Moving forward, market participants will now closely follow the usual press conference by Chairwoman Lagarde and the subsequent Q&A session, while the speech by Fed's Powell will also grab investors' attention.

What to look for around EUR

EUR/USD now clings to the parity region ahead of the always important press conference by Chair Lagarde after the ECB delivered a widely anticipated 75 bps rate hike.

So far, price action around the European currency is expected to closely follow dollar dynamics, geopolitical concerns, fragmentation worries and the Fed-ECB divergence. The latter, in the meantime, keeps closely following the prevailing debate around the size of the next interest rate hikes by both the ECB and the Federal Reserve.

On the negatives for the single currency emerge the so far increasing speculation of a potential recession in the region, which looks propped up by dwindling sentiment gauges as well as an incipient slowdown in some fundamentals.

Key events in the euro area this week: ECB Interest Rate Decision, Lagarde press conference (Thursday) – Eurogroup Meeting, Emergency Energy Meeting (Friday).

Eminent issues on the back boiler: Continuation of the ECB hiking cycle. Italian elections in late September. Fragmentation risks amidst the ECB’s normalization of its monetary conditions. Impact of the war in Ukraine and the persistent energy crunch on the region’s growth prospects and inflation outlook.

EUR/USD levels to watch

So far, the pair is gaining 0.06% at 1.0005 and faces the next resistance at 1.0090 (weekly high August 26) ahead of 1.0161 (55-day SMA) and then 1.0202 (August 17 high). On the other hand, a drop below 0.9863 (2022 low September 6) would target 0.9859 (December 2002 low) en route to 0.9685 (October 2002 low).

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Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD bounces back to $1,700 mark, bearish potential intact

Gold slides back closer to the monthly low, though follow-through selling is limited.

Continued, relentless USD buying, aggressive Fed rate hike bets weigh on the commodity.

Recession fears, the risk-off mood offers some support to the safe-haven XAU/USD.

Gold continues losing ground through the first half of trading on Wednesday. extending the previous day's pullback from a one-week high. This, the third successive day of a negative move drags the XAU/USD further below the $1,700 mark, though it stalls just ahead of the monthly low touched last Thursday.

US dollar buying remains unabated and turns out to be a key factor exerting downward pressure on the dollar-denominated gold. In fact, the USD Index, which measures the greenback's performance against a basket of currencies, hits a fresh two-decade high amid expectations for a more aggressive policy tightening by the Fed.

The current market pricing indicates over a 70% chance that the Fed will raise interest rates by 75 bps at the upcoming meeting on September 20-21. The bets were reaffirmed by Tuesday's upbeat US ISM Services PMI, which triggered a sell-off in the US government debt market and lifted the yield on the 30-year bond to its highest level since 2014.

Moreover, the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note surged to levels not seen since June 16. This, in turn, is further offering additional support to the greenback and also contributing to driving flows away from the non-yielding gold. That said, the prevalent risk-off mood helps limit deeper losses for the safe-haven precious metal, at least for now.

The prospects for rapid interest rate hikes, along with the economic headwinds stemming from fresh COVID-19 curbs in China and the ongoing war in Ukraine, have been fueling recession fears. This continues to weigh on investors' sentiment, which is evident from a generally weaker tone around the equity markets and underpins traditional safe-haven assets.

The flight to safety assists gold to bounce back to the $1,700 round-figure mark, though any further recovery still seems elusive. In the absence of any major market-moving economic releases from the US, speeches by Fed officials will play a key role in influencing the USD price dynamics. This, in turn, could produce short-term trading opportunities around the commodity.

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GBP/USD could extend its rebound if it manages to clear 1.1600

GBP/USD clings to daily recovery gains above 1.1550. The pair needs to clear 1.1600 to attract buyers.

The near-term technical outlook points to a bullish shift

“Near-term technical outlook points to a bullish tilt following the latest rebound.”

“1.1600 (psychological level, static level) aligns as immediate resistance. In case the pair manages to hold above that level, the 1.1640/50 area (50-period SMA, static level) could be seen as the next hurdle ahead of 1.1700 (static level, psychological level).”

“On the downside, 1.1550 (20-period SMA) forms first support before 1.1500 (psychological level, upper limit of the descending channel) and 1.1440 (September 5 low).”

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GBP/USD struggles to register any meaningful recovery, hangs near two-and-half-year low

GBP/USD attracts some intraday buying on Monday, though lacks follow-through.

A modest USD pullback from a two-decade high offers some support to the major.

The fundamental/technical backdrop still seems tilted in favour of bearish traders.

The GBP/USD pair stages a modest bounce from its lowest level since March 2020, around the 1.1445 area touched earlier this Monday. Spot prices hit a fresh daily high during the mid-European session, albeit seemed to struggle to capitalize on the move or find acceptance above the 1.1500 psychological mark.

The US dollar trims a part of its early gains to a fresh two-decade high and turns out to be a key factor offering some support to the GBP/USD pair. That said, expectations that the Fed will stick to its aggressive policy tightening path act as a tailwind for the greenback. Apart from this, a bleak outlook for the UK economy continue to undermine the British pound and kept a lid on any meaningful gains for the major.

It is worth recalling that the Bank of England had warned last month that the UK economy will enter a prolonged recession during the last quarter of the year. Adding to this, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) downgraded its forecast and now expects the UK economy to record three consecutive quarters of contraction. This, to a larger extent, overshadows the prospects for further interest rate hikes by the UK central bank.

On the UK political front, Liz Truss won the Conservative Party leadership race to become the next British Prime Minister. The news, however, did little to impress bullish traders, suggesting that the path of least resistance for the GBP/USD pair is to the downside. That said, relatively lighter trading volumes on the back of the Labor Day holiday in the US might hold back traders from placing aggressive bearish bets and limit losses.

Nevertheless, the fundamental backdrop still supports prospects for an extension of a three-week-old downward trajectory. Even from a technical perspective, acceptance below the 1.1500 mark and the GBP/USD pair's inability to attract any buyers suggests that the near-term selling bias is still far from being over. Hence, any attempted recovery move could be seen as a selling opportunity and runs the risk of fizzling out rather quickly.

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AUD/USD climbs back above 0.6800 mark amid modest USD weakness, NFP awaited

AUD/USD gains positive traction and reverses a part of the overnight slide to a multi-week low.

The USD moves away from a two-decade high and turns out to be a key factor lending support.

Aggressive Fed rate hike bets to limit the USD losses and cap the pair ahead of the NFP report.

The AUD/USD pair attracts some buying on Friday and recovers a part of the previous day's losses to the 0.6770 area, or the lowest level since July 18. The pair builds on its steady intraday ascent and moves back above the 0.6800 mark, hitting a fresh daily high during the first half of the European session.

The US dollar edges lower and retreats further from a two-decade high touched on Thursday, which, in turn, offers some support to the AUD/USD pair. A softer tone surrounding the US Treasury bond yields keeps the USD bulls on the defensive amid some repositioning trade ahead of the US monthly jobs data. Apart from this, signs of stability in the financial markets further undermine the safe-haven buck and benefit the risk-sensitive aussie.

That said, growing recession fears, economic headwinds stemming from fresh COVID-19 lockdowns in China and the war in Ukraine should cap any optimistic moves. Furthermore, expectations that the Fed will continue to tighten its monetary policy to tame inflation should act as a tailwind for the US bond yields and lend support to the greenback. This, in turn, warrants caution before placing aggressive bullish bets around the AUD/USD pair.

It is worth mentioning that the markets are pricing in a supersized 75 bps rate hike at the September FOMC meeting and the bets were reaffirmed by the recent hawkish remarks by several Fed officials. Traders now look to the US NFP report, which will provide a fresh insight into the economy's health and influence the USD price dynamics. This, in turn, will drive the AUD/USD pair ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) meeting next week.

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Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD to meltdown below the $1,675 mark – TDS

With every downtick, the risk of capitulation in gold is rising. Economists at TD Securities expect the yellow metal to slump below the $1,675 level.

China's appetite for gold has remained resilient

“The top players in Shanghai markets continue to add to their gold length, despite a depreciating CNY. These flows, alongside central bank demand, have likely kept gold from melting in a liquidity vacuum amid a hawkish Fed narrative, Nonetheless, the risk of capitulation from bloated prop-shop positioning is growing with every tick lower in prices as we approach this cohort's pandemic-era entry levels.”

“The downtrend in gold is gaining steam, as the breadth of technical signals short continues to firm.”

“The risk of a breakout in the broad dollar index could coincide with a meltdown below the $1,675 range in gold.”

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