Gold

Monday: The Precious Metal Returns to the Spotlight

XAUUSD ... Gold began the new trading week with solid gains. Prices of the precious metal climbed back above the psychologically important level of $4,000 per ounce, rising by 0.4% to $4,024.72. Gold futures performed even more strongly, gaining 0.5% to reach $4,029.87.

The recovery came after gold closed 0.2% lower on the previous Friday. The market has once again shifted its attention to geopolitical risks, which remain the main driving force behind demand for safe-haven assets. The conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, prompting investors to seek protection in gold.

Silver also advanced, with XAGUSD ... rising by 0.9% to $56.93 per ounce. Platinum, however, declined by 0.2% to $1,594.30. This mixed performance suggests that investors are choosing gold as the most reliable safe-haven asset amid geopolitical uncertainty.

The Middle East: Escalation and Signs of Diplomacy

The situation in the Middle East remains tense. The United States continues to carry out strikes on Iranian targets, while President Donald Trump warned Tehran that it would “pay” for the deaths of three American service members in recent days. This tough statement leaves little doubt that Washington has no intention of backing down.

Regional uncertainty has been intensified by a threat from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. This poses a serious risk to shipping in the Red Sea, one of the world’s key routes for energy supplies. In response, the Saudi-led military coalition has strengthened measures to protect maritime traffic.

However, there are also signs of hope for a diplomatic resolution. Iran said that mediators were discussing proposals aimed at de-escalating the conflict. Reuters reported on a proposed 10-day suspension of strikes, easing concerns about an immediate escalation. Markets breathed a sigh of relief, although only cautiously....

Monday in the Commodity Market: Oil Jumps 3%

The first day of the week began with a powerful surge in the oil market. Brent BZUSD ... crude futures jumped 3%, breaking through the psychologically important level of $90 per barrel and reaching $90.75. This was their highest level in more than five weeks. US West Texas Intermediate crude was not far behind, gaining 2.5% to reach $83.85 per barrel.

The reason for such a sharp move was not technical factors or inventory data, but the escalation of the military conflict between the United States and Iran, which entered a new and more dangerous phase over the weekend.

The conflict in the Middle East has already been underway for several weeks, but the events of the past weekend marked a turning point. The United States Central Command, or CENTCOM, confirmed that it carried out new strikes against Iranian targets on Sunday evening.

This was not simply another military operation. It was a response to an Iranian attack on a US base in Jordan that killed at least two American service members and injured many others. For the United States, this represented the crossing of a red line, and the response came quickly.

The most alarming development, however, is not the individual strikes themselves, but their geographical scope and intensity. According to reports, the US military is attacking a broader range of targets inside Iran rather than limiting its operations to border areas. Iran, in turn, has intensified its attacks on neighbouring Gulf states.

The conflict is no longer localised and is beginning to spread across the entire region.

The Strait of Hormuz: A Vital Artery Under Threat

The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the military confrontation. It is a strategically important waterway through which approximately 30% of the world’s...

Friday’s Opening: The Yellow Metal Attempts to Recover Its Losses

Friday began on an encouraging note for the precious metals market. August gold futures XAUUSD ... on COMEX gained 0.24% and were trading at $3,982.45 per troy ounce. This is a modest but meaningful move after several days of pressure, during which the metal even fell below the psychologically important $4,000 level.

The gold market currently resembles an athlete who has just lost a race but is already gathering strength for the next one. The previous day’s decline was significant, and investors watched anxiously as the price moved further away from its recent highs. However, the morning rebound demonstrated that demand for gold has not disappeared—it was simply waiting for the right moment.

Notably, gold is rising despite a stronger U.S. dollar. The U.S. Dollar Index increased by 0.03% on Friday to 100.60. Although this movement is largely symbolic, a stronger dollar usually works against gold. In this case, however, the dollar weakness observed earlier in the week continues to support the metal, even as the U.S. currency attempts to recover. Investors appear to have concluded that geopolitical risks outweigh short-term currency fluctuations.

Technical Outlook: Support and Resistance Set the Rules

Technical indicators on Friday present a relatively clear picture. Support is located at $3,974.15, where buyers entered the market and prevented the price from falling further. Resistance is considerably higher at $4,112.50. The distance between these levels is almost $140, giving traders plenty of room to maneuver.

Interestingly, the current price of $3,982.45 is very close to the lower boundary of this range. This means buyers still have considerable work to do before gold can return to levels above $4,000. Nevertheless, the fact that the metal found support and rebounded from it suggests that many investors consider current prices attractive...

Thursday Morning: Gold Opens in Negative Territory

Asian trading on Thursday began with the gold market deciding to cool off slightly. COMEX gold futures for August delivery fell by approximately half a percent, settling at around $4,032 per troy ounce. At first glance, the decline appears modest—just 0.49%. However, in the gold market, even movements of this size are rarely accidental. Behind every change in price are investors’ expectations, fears, and calculations.

Interestingly, the decline is taking place against a backdrop of rather contradictory signals from global markets. On the one hand, the US dollar strengthened slightly, with the USD Index rising by a symbolic 0.03% to 100.30. This movement can hardly be described as a confident surge, but because gold generally has an inverse relationship with the US currency, even a slight indication of dollar strength can be enough to trigger a price correction.

On the other hand, the geopolitical situation remains tense, which would normally encourage investors to move into safe-haven assets—gold above all.

However, markets, as we know, do not always behave according to textbooks. The current dynamics of gold provide a perfect example.

Technical Picture: The Levels Everyone Is Watching

Technical indicators present a highly revealing picture. The low of today’s session was $3,990.40 per ounce. This is not merely a random figure—it represents a significant support level that traders have been monitoring for several weeks. A break below this level could open the way for a deeper correction, but buyers are continuing to defend it for now.

Resistance is located considerably higher, at $4,144.60. The price is fluctuating between these two levels as it attempts to find equilibrium. A range of almost $150 is substantial for gold, but looking at the metal’s performance over recent months, the market has already become accustomed to such price...

Introduction: The End of Moderate Optimism

Wednesday marked a reversal for Taiwan’s stock market after two days of moderate gains. The Taiwan Weighted Index fell by 1.42%, reflecting negative sentiment across the optoelectronics and machinery sectors. This was the market’s most significant decline in several days and signaled a return of caution among investors.

Against the backdrop of global uncertainty caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and mixed signals from the Federal Reserve, investors chose to lock in profits and reduce their exposure to risk. However, as is often the case in Taiwan’s stock market, several companies still delivered impressive gains despite the broader decline.

Shares of Ene Technology Inc, Mospec Semiconductor Corp, and Hocheng Corp surged by approximately 10%, reaching their maximum daily gains. Meanwhile, Excel Cell Electronic Co Ltd, Holy Stone Enterprise Co Ltd, and Yeong Guan Energy Technology Group Co Ltd were among the biggest decliners, with the latter falling to a new all-time low.

In this article, we will examine the day’s key developments, assess the impact of external factors, and consider where Taiwan’s stock market may be heading in the coming days.

Top Gainers: Who Benefited in a Falling Market

Ene Technology Inc: Up 9.99%

Shares of Ene Technology Inc were among the most notable exceptions during the broader market decline. The stock rose by 9.99% to TWD 39.65, reaching the maximum permitted daily gain. This impressive increase indicates strong investor interest in the company.

Ene Technology Inc specializes in the production of electronic components. The company may have benefited from continued strength in certain areas of the electronics industry despite the overall decline in the index.

Mospec Semiconductor Corp: Up 9.96%

Shares of Mospec Semiconductor Corp increased by 9.96% to TWD 75.10. This was also close to the maximum gain the stock...

Introduction: A Pullback Following Weak Inflation Data

Wednesday began with another round of correction for gold. August gold futures fell by 0.90% to $4,032.87 per troy ounce. Silver also declined by 0.81% to $58.63. This is happening against the backdrop of a weaker US dollar, which fell by 0.09% to 100.63 points.

What is happening? Why is gold falling while the dollar is weakening? A weaker dollar usually supports gold prices, but today this correlation has broken down. The reason lies in US inflation data, which came in below expectations, and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh, who maintained a hawkish stance.

Investors are reassessing their positions. Lower inflation reduces demand for gold as protection against currency depreciation, while the Fed’s tough rhetoric creates expectations that interest rates will remain high. In this article, we will examine all the factors affecting gold, assess the key technical levels, and try to determine where the metal may move in the coming days.

Inflation Data: Easing Pressure

A Weak CPI Report

US inflation data for June came in below expectations. The Consumer Price Index fell by 0.4% month over month, while annual inflation stood at 3.5%, compared with the projected 3.8%. Core CPI increased by 2.6%, also below forecasts.

This decline in inflation reduces demand for gold as a safe-haven asset. Investors are becoming less concerned about currency depreciation, weakening one of the key factors that has supported gold prices.

The Dollar’s Reaction

The US dollar weakened by 0.5% following the release of the data, but this did not help gold maintain its position. A weaker dollar usually supports gold, but today this effect was outweighed by other factors.

Falling inflation and hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve created pressure on the metal that proved stronger than the currency factor.

Impact on...

Introduction: A Breather After the Sell-Off

Tuesday brought long-awaited relief to gold investors. After plunging nearly 3% on Monday—the sharpest one-day decline in more than a month—the precious metal began to recover. XAU/USD rose by 0.54% to $4,022.87 per ounce, while gold futures gained 0.59% to reach $4,029.22. Silver and platinum also moved higher, rising by 0.63% and 0.42%, respectively.

However, this increase does not represent a confident recovery but rather a cautious pause. The market has entered a holding pattern ahead of two key events: the release of US inflation data and testimony by Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh before Congress. These events are likely to determine the direction of gold prices over the coming weeks.

Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, while comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller have added fuel to the fire by strengthening expectations of a possible interest rate hike. In this article, we will examine all the factors currently affecting gold and attempt to determine where the precious metal may move in the coming days.

The Middle East Conflict: A Double Blow to Gold

Escalation and Transit Fees

President Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping in the Persian Gulf and described Washington as the “Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz.” Moreover, he proposed introducing a 20% fee on cargo passing through this strategically important waterway.

The announcement represented a sharp escalation of US pressure on Tehran and raised doubts about the durability of the fragile ceasefire reached in June. Markets reacted immediately: oil prices continued to rise, while investors began reassessing their inflation expectations.

Inflation Risks

Rising energy prices are reviving concerns that higher energy costs could fuel inflation and complicate the Federal Reserve’s efforts to return price growth to its target level.

For gold, this creates...

Introduction: A Ray of Light After a Difficult Period

Tuesday began on a long-awaited positive note for the gold market. August gold futures rose by 0.54%, reaching $4,027.30 per troy ounce. For investors who had endured several weeks of bearish pressure, this increase came as a breath of fresh air.

What is driving this recovery? A weaker US dollar, geopolitical uncertainty surrounding Iran, and the approaching release of key US inflation data have all created favorable conditions for gold prices to rebound. However, technical levels suggest that the path toward sustainable growth will remain challenging.

Silver and copper also posted gains, indicating a broader recovery across commodity markets. Nevertheless, it is still too early to speak of a full trend reversal. The market is awaiting signals from the Federal Reserve and consumer price data, which will determine the future direction of precious metals.

Technical Overview: Key Levels to Watch

Support Holds

Gold found support at $3,991.90 per ounce. This is a critical level, and holding above it keeps hopes of a recovery alive. Had the metal fallen below this mark, the decline could have continued toward the next support levels, potentially in the $3,800–$3,900 range.

For now, however, support has held, giving bulls renewed hope. The current 0.54% increase signals that buyers are beginning to return to the market. Nevertheless, gold must overcome resistance at $4,148.40 to establish a sustainable recovery.

Resistance as the Next Target

Resistance at $4,148.40 is the key barrier separating the bearish and bullish scenarios. If gold manages to break above this level, the way could open toward $4,200 and beyond, including the 200-day moving average near $4,491.

For now, however, this remains only a target. The market remains cautious, and investors are reluctant to open large long positions until they receive clear signals from the...

Introduction: The Australian Gold Rush

Australia’s gold mining sector is going through a turbulent period. At the center of the action is the takeover of Vault Minerals, which attracted competing bids from two major players: Regis Resources and Genesis Minerals. The outcome of this battle became clear on Monday, when Regis officially announced that it would not improve its offer, clearing the way for its rival.

What was behind this decision? Why did Regis, after investing so much effort in the battle for Vault, suddenly withdraw? And what will the new combined company created by Genesis and Vault look like? This story brings together strategic calculations, asset valuations, and intense competition in a sector where high gold prices are encouraging producers to consolidate.

Regis Exits the Race: Why the Company Backed Down

The Numbers Did Not Add Up

Regis Resources decided not to submit a counteroffer after concluding that matching the terms proposed by Genesis would not meet the company’s return requirements and acquisition valuation criteria. This sounds like a diplomatic acknowledgment that Genesis may have overpaid for Vault and that Regis did not want to become involved in a bidding war.

Such decisions are common in the world of mergers and acquisitions. Companies frequently walk away from transactions when the price becomes too high and no longer meets their internal profitability criteria. Regis clearly concluded that acquiring Vault at the current valuation would not generate sufficient long-term returns for its shareholders.

Respect for the Competitor

The Regis board concluded that the Genesis proposal was genuinely the best offer available to Vault. This was an acknowledgment not only of the financial aspects of the deal but also of its strategic benefits: Genesis appears to have proposed terms that were better aligned with the interests of Vault shareholders.

The Genesis proposal...

Introduction: Monday’s Sell-Off

Monday morning brought an unpleasant surprise for gold investors. Precious metal prices continued to decline, and the drop was substantial. XAU/USD fell by 1.5% to $4,057 per ounce, while gold futures lost 1.17%, slipping to $4,065. Silver and platinum suffered even heavier losses: silver plunged by nearly 3%, while platinum fell by 1.6%.

What happened? Why is gold, traditionally considered a safe-haven asset, falling at a time when geopolitical tensions are reaching their peak? As is often the case, the answer lies in a complex combination of factors, with rising oil prices and inflation expectations outweighing demand for safety.

The resumption of hostilities between the United States and Iran, the threat of the Strait of Hormuz being closed, and the surge in oil prices above $78 per barrel have created a perfect storm for the gold market. Investors are not so much afraid of the war itself as they are of its consequences: accelerating inflation and, as a result, tighter monetary policy from the Federal Reserve. For gold, which generates no income, higher interest rates can be a fatal blow.

Geopolitical Shock: Iran, the United States, and the Strait of Hormuz

Escalation of the Conflict: From Words to Action

The weekend marked the point at which diplomatic efforts finally reached a dead end. The United States launched another round of strikes against Iranian targets following an attack on a Cyprus-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran responded swiftly by announcing the closure of the key shipping route until further notice.

Although US officials disputed the announcement and emphasized that the waterway remained open under the protection of the US armed forces, markets had already begun pricing in the worst-case scenario. Shipping activity in the region declined sharply, and even if the strait technically remains open,...