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Gold prices held firm at 3,373 USD per troy ounce on Thursday, remaining near a four-week high. The metal’s strength is being fuelled by mounting concerns over the US economic slowdown, boosting demand for non-yielding safe-haven assets.

US data signals economic distress

The latest reports revealed a contraction in the US service sector for the first time in nearly a year – an alarming sign of broader weakness.

Additionally, the ADP employment report indicated a notable slowdown in private-sector hiring. In May, only 37,000 new jobs were added, far below the expected 111,000 and lower than April’s figure of 60,000.

These weak indicators have bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at least twice this year. Such prospects typically favour gold, as the metal becomes more attractive in a low-rate environment.

Despite Donald Trump’s repeated calls for rate cuts, Fed officials remain cautious, especially in light of persistent trade risks and volatile global conditions.

Attention now shifts to the US non-farm payrolls report, due on Friday, which could provide further clarity on the Fed’s policy path.

Technical analysis of XAU/USD

On the H4 chart, gold is forming the fifth wave of growth, targeting 3,415 USD. The entire structure is viewed as a corrective phase following the previous decline. Once this wave is complete, a new downtrend towards 3,060 USD is anticipated. The MACD indicator supports this scenario, with its signal line above zero and pointing sharply upwards, indicating continued bullish momentum for now.

On the H1 chart, gold formed a consolidation range around 3,331 USD, then broke out upwards, reaching the local target of 3,391 USD. A correction to 3,333 USD has already played out. Currently, the market is developing the final leg of the fifth wave towards 3,417 USD, with a compact consolidation zone forming around 3,374 USD. If gold breaks upwards, the next resistance will be at 3,404 USD, followed by a pullback to 3,374 USD, and then further growth to the 3,417 USD target. The Stochastic oscillator confirms this scenario, with its signal line below 20 and moving sharply upwards towards 80, signalling the potential for near-term upward continuation.

Conclusion

Gold remains well-supported by deteriorating US economic data and expectations of monetary easing by the Fed. As long as concerns over employment, services activity, and trade uncertainty persist, gold’s upward momentum is likely to continue. Key technical levels include support at 3,333 USD and resistance at 3,404-3,417 USD, with broader downside risk emerging only after the current bullish wave concludes.

As shown on the USD/JPY chart, the pair is hovering near key support at ¥142.50 per US dollar.

While demand was strong enough at the end of May to lift the exchange rate from this level to a peak around ¥146.00, USD/JPY has once again retreated to the ¥142.50 area.
Why has USD/JPY declined?

On one hand, the US dollar has weakened following disappointing economic data released yesterday. The figures revealed a sharp slowdown in private sector hiring and an unexpected contraction in the US services sector, fuelling concerns over a possible recession.

On the other hand, yen strength is being driven by the Bank of Japan's apparent willingness to raise interest rates — reaffirmed on Tuesday by Governor Kazuo Ueda — which has reinforced expectations of a tightening cycle.

USD/JPY Technical Analysis

In early June, the ¥142.50 level had already shown its role as support (as indicated by the arrow), but it is once again under pressure — a sign of bearish dominance.

Yesterday, sellers broke through local support at ¥143.57, which may now act as resistance.

More US economic data is due on Friday, with key labour market figures set to be released at 15:30 GMT+3. These could potentially trigger a bearish attempt to break below the ¥142.50 level on the USD/JPY chart.

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Daily Pivots: (S1) 192.86; (P) 194.05; (R1) 194.66; More...

Intraday bias in GBP/JPY remains neutral at this point. Further rise is in favor as long as 191.86 support holds. Firm break of 196.38 will resume whole rally from 184.35. However, firm break of 191.86 will indicate near term reversal and turn bias back to the downside.

In the bigger picture, price actions from 208.09 are seen as a correction to rally from 123.94 (2020 low). Strong support should be seen from 38.2% retracement of 123.94 to 208.09 at 175.94 to contain downside. However, sustained break of 175.94 will bring deeper fall even still as a correction.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 162.57; (P) 163.41; (R1) 163.84; More...

Intraday bias in EUR/JPY stays neutral at this point. On the upside, above 164.24 will bring retest of 165.19 resistance first. Firm break there will resume while rise from 154.77 to 166.67 resistance. On the downside, however, break of 161.06 will resume the decline from 165.19 instead.

In the bigger picture, price actions from 175.41 are seen as correction to rally from 114.42 (2020 low). Strong support should be seen from 38.2% retracement of 114.42 to 175.41 at 152.11 to contain downside. However, sustained break of 152.11 will bring deeper fall even still as a correction.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.8411; (P) 0.8421; (R1) 0.8436; More...

Intraday bias in EUR/GBP remains neutral for the moment. On the upside, above 0.8448 will resume the rebound to 38.2% retracement of 0.8737 to 0.8354 at 0.8500. On the downside, however, break of 0.8401 minor support will bring retest of 0.8354 low.

In the bigger picture, price actions from 0.8221 medium term bottom are merely forming a corrective pattern. There is no clear momentum to break through 0.8201 key support (2022 low) yet. Hence, range trading is expected between 0.8221/8737 for now.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.7541; (P) 1.7590; (R1) 1.7637; More...

Intraday bias in EUR/AUD remains neutral. On the upside, firm break of 38.2% retracement of 1.8554 to 1.7245 at 1.7745 will solidify the case that fall from 1.8554 has completed as a correction. Next target is 61.8% retracement at 1.8054. On the downside, however, break of 1.7460 support will bring retest of 1.7245 instead.

In the bigger picture, as long as 1.7062 resistance turned support (2023 high) holds, up trend from 1.4281 (2022 low) should still be in progress. Break of 1.8554 is expected after the whole corrective pattern from there completes. However, sustained break of 1.7062 will bring deeper fall back to 1.5963 support.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.9329; (P) 0.9355; (R1) 0.9371; More....

Intraday bias in EUR/CHF remains neutral. Rise from 0.9218 might continue, either as a correction to fall from 0.9660, or the third leg of the pattern from 0.9204. On the upside, above 0.9419 will target 0.9445 resistance and above. Nevertheless, on the downside, firm break of 0.9291 will bring retest of 0.9218 low.

In the bigger picture, prior rejection by long-term falling channel resistance (now at 0.9527) retains medium term bearishness. That is, down trend from 1.2004 (2018 high) is still in progress. Firm break of 0.9204 (2024 low) will confirm resumption. This will remain the favored case as long as 0.9660 resistance holds.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.1371; (P) 1.1403; (R1) 1.1449; More...

Intraday bias in EUR/USD remains neutral for the moment. Rebound from 1.1064 could extend higher, but strong resistance should be seen from 1.1572 to limit upside, at least on first attempt. On the downside, break of 1.1209 support will indicate that the corrective pattern from 1.1572 has started the third leg, and target 1.1064 support.

In the bigger picture, rise from 0.9534 long term bottom could be correcting the multi-decade downtrend or the start of a long term up trend. In either case, further rise should be seen to 100% projection of 0.9534 to 1.1274 from 1.0176 at 1.1916. This will now remain the favored case as long as 55 W EMA (now at 1.0856) holds.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 142.10; (P) 143.25; (R1) 143.88; More...

USD/JPY is still bounded in range trading and intraday bias remains neutral. On the upside, above 146.27 will target 148.64 resistance first. Firm break there will resume the rebound from 139.87. Nevertheless, break of 142.10 will bring deeper fall back to 139.87 low.

In the bigger picture, price actions from 161.94 are seen as a corrective pattern to rise from 102.58 (2021 low), with fall from 158.86 as the third leg. Strong support should be seen from 38.2% retracement of 102.58 to 161.94 at 139.26 to bring rebound. However, sustained break of 139.26 would open up deeper medium term decline to 61.8% retracement at 125.25.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.3511; (P) 1.3545; (R1) 1.3590; More...

Intraday bias in GBP/USD remains neutral as it's still bounded in range below 1.3592. With 1.3389 support intact, further rise is expected. On the upside, firm break of 1.3592 will resume larger up trend to 100% projection of 1.2706 to 1.3442 from 1.3138 at 1.3874. However, decisive break of 1.3389 will turn bias back to the downside for 1.3138 support instead.

In the bigger picture, up trend from 1.3051 (2022 low) is in progress. Next medium term target is 61.8% projection of 1.0351 to 1.3433 from 1.2099 at 1.4004. Outlook will now stay bullish as long as 55 W EMA (now at 1.2866) holds, even in case of deep pullback.