Headline: Gold Slides Back to Support as Traders Brace for US Jobs Data
Gold has unwound last week’s short-squeeze and is now hovering near pivotal technical levels as markets await the next US Nonfarm Payrolls and weekly jobless claims reports. Interest-rate expectations remain the dominant driver, with traders weighing the odds of further Federal Reserve easing against incoming labor-market signals.
Strong employment data would likely pressure gold prices by lifting Treasury yields and suppressing expectations for rate cuts. Softer readings, by contrast, could revive demand for the precious metal as easing bets firm up. In the broader macro backdrop, gold’s uptrend remains underpinned by the potential for declining real yields over time, but any near-term hawkish repricing in policy expectations may keep the metal on the back foot.
From a technical perspective, the 4-hour chart highlights a robust support area around 4020, reinforced by a rising trendline that adds confluence. If buyers defend this zone, a rebound toward the 4150 resistance looks plausible. A decisive break lower would put the 3820 region in focus as the next downside target. On the 1-hour view, a counter-trendline is guiding the current pullback; sellers are likely to lean against it with tight risk controls, while bulls will look for a clean breakout above the line to reassert momentum toward resistance.
Key Points: – Gold retraces last week’s gains, trading near key technical support ahead of US jobs data – Strong NFP and jobless claims outcomes could weigh on gold by boosting yields and curbing rate-cut expectations – Weaker labor data would likely support gold on renewed Fed easing bets and lower real-yield prospects – 4-hour chart shows confluence support near 4020; resistance sits around 4150 – A downside break opens room toward 3820; a rebound targets a retest of overhead resistance – Intraday counter-trendline remains the pivot for near-term bullish or bearish follow-through
