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Gold continues to trend higher and hit the highest in six weeks on Monday, supported by growing expectations for Fed rate cut in December.

Weak US economic data and recent dovish comments from Fed policymakers fueled fresh rise in bets for further policy easing, while market participants also expect successor of Fed Chair Jerome Powell to hold more dovish stance.

Such environment contributed to further weakening of US Dollar that boosts demand for yellow metal.

Fresh gains broke through previous high ($4245, close above which to confirm bullish signal) and cracked Fibo barrier at $4264 (76.4% retracement of $4381/$3886 correction), where bulls may face stronger resistance as stochastic is overbought and positive momentum faded on daily chart.

However, consolidation is likely to be narrow (overall picture is bullish and sentiment is positive) with $4200 zone (psychological / broken Fibo 61.8%) marking solid support which should keep the downside protected.

Firm break of $4264 Fibo barrier to strengthen near-term structure for test of $4300, the last significant obstacle en-route to $4381, new record high.

Res: 4264; 4300; 4339; 4368.
Sup: 4200; 4173; 4134; 4100.

The dollar index came under increased pressure on Monday and fell to two-week low, following renewed rise in bets for Fed rate cut in the last policy meeting this year, as markets await releases of key economic indicators from the US labor sector, which could contribute to such decision.

The report released today showed that US manufacturing sector remains in a downward trajectory for the ninth consecutive month, with higher prices on tariffs and significant drop in orders, being mainly behind the slump that added pressure on greenback.

Daily studies weakened as 14-momentum indicator stays in the negative territory and price dips further below broken 200 /20/10DMAs and approaching pivotal support at $98.85 (Nov 14 higher low), where stronger headwinds could be expected, as stochastic is oversold.

Limited upticks should hold below 200DMA (99.43) to keep near-term bias with bears and offer better levels to enter fresh shorts.

Bull-trap at $100 level and initial signal of formation of reversal pattern on monthly chart contribute to negative scenario, although firm break of $98.85/60 zone (Nov 14 low / 55DMA / Fibo 38.2% of $95.82/$100.31) is still required to signal reversal on daily chart and open way for further retracement of $95.85/$100.31 rally.

Res: 99.25; 99.43; 99.70; 100.00
Sup: 98.85; 98.60; 98.34; 98.07

• ECB rates are in the right place while German inflation is accelerating.
• The Bank of Japan may raise rates in December & capital flight will pressure the pound.

Attempts by the US dollar to counterattack are being thwarted. The euro is rising due to accelerating German inflation, the pound is rising following the debt market’s approval of Rachel Reeves’ draft budget, and the yen is growing in anticipation of a rate hike by the Bank of Japan in December. Donald Trump’s comments on the selection of a new Fed chair, as well as expectations for speeches by Jerome Powell and Michelle Bowman, are weighing on the dollar.

Christine Lagarde said that the ECB’s interest rates are at the right level. With inflation under control, the European Central Bank is well-positioned. Indeed, there are risks of both acceleration and deceleration in consumer prices. The former includes Germany’s fiscal stimulus and rising expectations of higher industrial and service prices. The latter include the strong euro, lower energy prices and imports from China.

The acceleration of inflation in Germany to 2.6% in November is reinforcing the ECB’s caution. The central bank has most likely ended its cycle of rate cuts. There are scenarios in which the deposit rate will rise. The federal funds rate, on the other hand, risks falling significantly. The divergence in monetary policy creates an excellent opportunity for the EURUSD to resume its upward trend. However, to start with, the bulls need to hold on to 1.16.

Meanwhile, the yen strengthened thanks to Kazuo Ueda’s hawkish speech. He stated that the Bank of Japan would weigh all the pros and cons of raising the overnight rate. At the same time, any increase should be seen as an adjustment to the ultra-soft monetary policy. On these words, the probability of a rate hike in December rose to 76%, allowing bears to develop a decline in USDJPY.

The pound is trying to stabilise after the presentation of the draft budget. According to Eurizon SLJ Capital, the pound will fall against the euro, yen, and Swiss franc amid capital flight by the wealthy following tax increases.

The ISM Manufacturing Index ticked down slightly to 48.2 in November, only slightly lower than October's reading of 48.7.

Four industries reported growth last month, down from six in October. The share of manufacturing GDP reporting growth was unchanged at 58%.

Demand conditions declined overall, but not uniformly. Improvements in new export orders and inventories were dwarfed by the declines in the backlog of orders and new orders indexes.

The production index has once again moved into expansion territory, reaching 51.4, quite a bit above October's 48.2. It has been volatile in recent months. It was last in positive territory in September's survey, which registered at 51.0.

The pace of price gains was little changed in November, coming in at 58.5 vs. 58.0 in October. And the employment index remains in contractionary territory, declining 2.0 points to 44.0 this month.

Key Implications

The November survey came in broadly like last month's, meaning that the underlying state of the manufacturing sector is largely unchanged. The sector is seeing price pressures which are gradually lessening but remain a sticking point, employment is contracting, and demand is tepid.

As in recent months, survey respondents continue to report substantial struggles with tariffs. Price volatility, constraints on supplier availability, and the government shutdown have weighed on the industry. Some respondents cited the lack of official data as an impediment to planning. Respondents in several industries are expecting to see larger changes to revenue and head count in 2026. The bottom line is that the manufacturing sector is still contracting due to weak demand, while policy uncertainty has added to its challenges.

Markets

Bank of Japan governor Ueda finally embraced a next rate hike by the Bank of Japan, very likely when the central bank meets next on December 19. A 25 bps increase lifts the policy rate from the 0.5% in place since January to 0.75%. The market implied probability of such move increase from around 35% a week ago to currently 80%. Ueda highlighted that uncertainties surrounding US tariff policy and the US economy have significantly declined compared to a few months ago. Additionally, the yen’s recent weakness could accelerate inflation in Japan, potentially impacting corporations’ wage-and price-setting behavior and underlying inflation. Ueda compared raising rates at an appropriate level with taking the foot off the accelerator enough to achieve price growth and price stability rather than putting the breaks. He also warned that delaying the next rate hike for too long could cause sharp inflation and force the BoJ into (unwanted) rapid policy adjustments. Japanese markets reacted accordingly. JGB’s sold off with yields rising by 4.2 bps to 6.1 bps, the belly of the curve underperforming the wings. The Japanese 2-yr yield breached the 1% mark for the first time since 2008. The 10-yr yield (1.88%) also hit the highest level since that year with the 30-yr yield testing the 3.4% all-time high. The Japanese yen rises from the ashes after dismal performances in October and November. USD/JPY falls from 156.25 to 154.75. EUR/JPY falls from 181.10 to 108.25. Less bullish risk sentiment (-0.5% to -1% in Europe; -0.5% open in the US) and renewed weakness in crypto space (Bitcoin -6%) support the yen from the safe haven perspective.

The JGB sell-off spilled to core bonds markets in absence of relevant eco data. European and UK yield curves bear steepen. UK yields add 2 bps (2-yr) to 7 bps (30-yr) ending the very short relief rally after last week’s Budget presentation. German yields rise by 2.7 bps (2-yr) to 6 bps (30-yr) with EUR swap rates adding 2 to 5 bps in the similar steepening move. The EU 10y swap rate hits the highest level since July of last year (2.8%). The 30-y swap rate goes above 3.12% for the first time since November 2023. US Treausuries initially outperformed, but joined the sell-off as the US trading session got going. A new spike in the SOFR rate (4.12% on Friday from 4.05% on Wednesday; reported with one day delay) above the upper bound of the Fed funds target range added to general nervousness. End-of-month settings and lower liquidity in the Thanksgiving weekend are probably part of the explanation but the amount of liquidity banks pulled on the NY Fed’s standing repo facility already increased further today after the first of two daily operations. US T’s went from outperforming to underperforming, lifting US yields by 3.9 bps (2-yr) to 7.4 bps (30-yr) at the time of writing. The US dollar slightly underperformed today, but it’s hard to connect the dots. The move slowed as US yields started catching up. EUR/USD changes hands at 1.1630 from a start near 1.16.

News & Views

Polish Q3 GDP growth was slightly upwardly revised to 0.8% Q/Q and 3.8% Y/Y. Details showed consumption expenditure rising by 1% Q/Q (4.4% Y/Y). Household consumption eased slightly at -0.1% Q/Q after strong growth in the previous quarter (+1.5%). Government consumption rose 1.8% Q/Q and gross fixed capital formation added 3.5%. Exports increased (2.7%) slightly more than imports (2.4%). From a supply side point of view, industry added 1.6% Q/Q and 4.9% Y/Y. Added value in construction rose 0.6% Q/Q, transportation and storage 1.1% and accommodation and catering 0.8%. Despite decent economic growth since Q4 of last year, the National Bank of Poland (NBP) is expected to ease its policy rate further by 25 bps to 4% on Wednesday as November inflation eased back below the 2.5% NBP inflation target (2.4%). The zloty holds near the strong side of the 4.22/4.31 trading range.

Material shortages in the German manufacturing sector are worsening, according to the German IFO institute. German manufacturing is struggling with more and more bottlenecks in the supply of intermediate products. 11.2% of the companies surveyed reported difficulties in obtaining the materials they need for production (from 5.5% in October). Head of IFO Klaus Wohlrabe said that “the shortage of semiconductors is exacerbating the already difficult situation in the industry”. The shortage has become particularly acute in the automotive industry as more than one in four companies (27.6%) reported (from less than 1% in October). Manufacturers of electronic and optical products are also experiencing increasing problems (from 10.4 to 17.5%.). Idem for manufacturers of electrical equipment (16% reporting shortage up from 10%). In mechanical engineering, the figure rose to 8.2%.

US ISM Manufacturing PMI fell to 48.2 in November from 48.7, missing expectations for 49.0 and marking the ninth straight month of contraction.

New orders dropped sharply to 47.4 from 49.4. Employment deteriorated further from 46.0 to 44.0. Production was one of the few bright spots, rising from 48.2 to 51.4 and suggesting that output is holding steady even as new business slows. Input prices edged up from 58.0 to 58.5.

Based on the historical relationship between PMI Manufacturing and broader activity, November’s reading corresponds to an estimated 1.7% annualized increase in real GDP.

Full US ISM manufacturing release here.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.1568; (P) 1.1587; (R1) 1.1619; More…

EUR/USD's rebound from 1.1490 extends higher today and focus is now on 1.1655 resistance. Decisive break there will complete a head and should bottom pattern (ls: 1.1540, h: 1.1467, rs: 1.1490). That would argue that whole fall from 1.1917 has completed as a correction. Further rise should then be seen to 1.1727 resistance first. On the downside, though, below 1.1554 will turn bias to the downside for 1.1490 support first.

In the bigger picture, considering bearish divergence condition in D MACD, a medium term top is likely in place at 1.1917, just ahead of 1.2 key psychological level. As long as 55 W EMA (now at 1.1345) holds, the up trend from 0.9534 (2022 low) is still in favor to continue. Decisive break of 1.2000 will carry larger bullish implications. However, sustained trading below 55 W EMA will argue that rise from 0.9534 has completed as a three wave corrective bounce, and keep long term outlook bearish.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.3204; (P) 1.3229; (R1) 1.3258; More...

Intraday bias in GBP/USD is back on the upside with breach of 1.3267 temporary top. Sustained trading above 55 D EMA (now at 1.3265) should confirm that fall from 1.3787 has completed as a correction. Further rise should then be seen to 1.3725/3787 resistance zone. Nevertheless, break of 1.3199 minor support will revive near term bearishness, and bring retest of 1.3008.

In the bigger picture, the break of 55 W EMA (now at 1.3184) is taken as the first sign that corrective rise from 1.0351 (2022 low) has completed. Decisive break of trend line support (now at 1.2760) will solidify this case and target 38.2% retracement of 1.0351 to 1.3787 at 1.2474 next. Meanwhile, in case of another rise, strong resistance should emerge below 1.4248 (2021 high) to cap upside to preserve the long term down trend.

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.8019; (P) 0.8046; (R1) 0.8064; More…

Intraday bias in USD/CHF is back on the downside with break of 55 D EMA (now at 0.8015). Rebound from 0.7877 could have completed at 0.8101 already, and deeper fall would be seen back to this support. Overall, price actions from 0.7828 low are seen as a corrective pattern. Firm break of 0.7877 will argue that larger down trend is ready to resume. On the upside, above 0.8046 minor resistance will turn intraday bias neutral again.

In the bigger picture, long term down trend from 1.0342 (2017 high) is still in progress. Next target is 100% projection of 1.0146 (2022 high) to 0.8332 from 0.9200 at 0.7382. In any case, outlook will stay bearish as long as 0.8332 support turned resistance holds (2023 low).

Daily Pivots: (S1) 155.91; (P) 156.25; (R1) 156.52; More...

USD/JPY's fall from 157.88 extends lower today and focus is now on near term rising channel support (now at 154.21). Strong support could be seen there to bring rebound. Above 156.57 minor resistance will bring retest of 157.88. Further break of 157.88 will resume the whole rally from 139.87. Next target is 158.86 structural resistance, and then 161.94 high. However, sustained break of the channel support will bring deeper correction to 55 D EMA (now at 152.86), and raise the chance of near term trend reversal.

In the bigger picture, current development suggests that corrective pattern from 161.94 (2024 high) has completed with three waves at 139.87. Larger up trend from 102.58 (2021 low) could be ready to resume through 161.94 high. Decisive break of 158.85 structural resistance will solidify this bullish case and target 161.94 for confirmation. On the downside, break of 150.90 resistance turned support will dampen this bullish view and extend the corrective range pattern with another falling leg.