Metals

On the morning of April 28, 2026, Forex investors are witnessing another round of decline in gold prices (XAU/USD). The precious metal, which just recently was storming the psychological $5,000 per ounce mark amid an acute geopolitical crisis, has now retreated below $4,650, hitting two-week lows. Traders’ attention is focused on several powerful factors, ranging from the nuclear standoff in the Strait of Hormuz to the verdict from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Fundamental Analysis: Geopolitics and Central Banks

The main driver of gold's current dynamics is the unstable situation surrounding U.S.-Iran negotiations. Yesterday, reports emerged that Tehran proposed to Washington that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz be resumed, but attached a counter-condition — to postpone the resolution of the nuclear issue until the end of hostilities. Expectations of de-escalation triggered a temporary rise in risk appetite and weakened demand for safe-haven assets. However, by Tuesday morning, it became clear: U.S. President Donald Trump is unhappy with the Iranian initiative, and direct dialogue in Pakistan has collapsed.

While politicians exchange ultimatums, the U.S. dollar is strengthening its role as the primary safe haven, putting pressure on gold, which is denominated in it. Additional nervousness stems from central bank meetings: the Bank of Japan today and the Federal Reserve on Wednesday will announce their monetary policy decisions. The U.S. regulator is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged, but the tone of the statements from outgoing Chairman Jerome Powell will be crucial for the medium-term trend. Markets are also pricing in a 35% probability of at least one monetary policy easing in the U.S. by the end of the year, which theoretically limits the dollar’s upside potential and supports gold.

The factor of oil prices should not be dismissed. Escalation in the Middle East has pushed the price of a...

In the world of finance, numerous legends still circulate about "soulless machines" that can supposedly crash the market instantly or, conversely, make their owner a billionaire overnight. There is a grain of truth in this, but far more misconceptions. Let's break down the main myths about trading robots and see what real advantages algorithmic trading (algotrading) offers the ordinary trader. Real Advantages of Algorithmic Trading Before discussing the myths, let's honestly list what robots truly do better than humans: Emotional Neutrality — the absence of fear, greed, and hope. A robot will not hold a losing position "hoping for a rebound" and will not take profit too early out of anxiety. Reaction Speed — an algorithm reacts to a price change in milliseconds. A human is physically incapable of manually placing an order that fast. 24/5 Operation (and 24/7 on the crypto market) — a robot does not sleep, eat, or get distracted. It will not miss a trade even at 3 o'clock in the morning. Backtesting — the ability to test a strategy on several years of historical data in a couple of minutes. A human cannot manually verify thousands of trades. Strict Adherence to Risk Management — a robot will never violate its own rules: it won't open an extra lot or move a stop-loss into the "comfort zone." Now let's move on to what prevents many traders from starting to use automation — the myths. Myth #1: "A trading robot guarantees 100% profit" This is the most dangerous and widespread myth. No algorithm provides a one hundred percent guarantee because the market is a complex probabilistic system. Even the most sophisticated robot has drawdowns, unprofitable months, and periods when its strategy stops working (for example, during a change in market regime). Reality: A good robot is a...