XAU/USD: gold retreats, but doesn’t give up

Gold prices have experienced four consecutive weeks of decline, with a 3.6% drop in the current month, marking the worst performance since February. Despite this decline, retail traders are showing increased bullish sentiment toward gold. This suggests that some investors see the lower prices as an attractive buying opportunity.

Gold prices dipped as investors took profits following a near one-month high, but still recorded their biggest weekly gain since April on expectations of a pause in U.S. interest rate hikes. Spot gold was down 0.3% at $1,954.69 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures eased 0.2% to $1,959.30. The dollar index edged up 0.2% but remained close to its lowest level since April 2022.

Here's the latest news from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. While speaking at a conference in Portugal, Powell expressed optimism about the US economy and decreased the possibility of a recession, stating that the economy has shown resilience and is still growing, albeit at a modest pace. He acknowledged the possibility of a recession but emphasized that it is not the most likely scenario.

The past several weeks have been a real triumph for the bulls in the oil market. The Brent spot price grew by 8.5% during the last month.

Gold prices are rising for three consecutive days ahead of the Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate decision, which is expected to remain unchanged due to declining inflation and a positive economic outlook. Investors are keen on the Fed's interest rate guidance, fearing a hawkish stance that could trigger market risk aversion.

Amid concerns of a Chinese economic slowdown, reports of declining investment often overlook China's efficient investment strategy in emerging sectors for long-term growth. China has taken measures to stabilize foreign and private sector investments, like reducing the reserve requirement ratio to boost investor confidence.