Gold advances as geopolitical uncertainty increases, China resumes purchases

• The increasing uncertainty in the Middle East and China’s purchases support Gold’s recovery.
• The US Dollar hesitates as strong US labour data did not curb hopes of further Fed interest-rate cuts next week.
• XAU/USD is heading towards a key resistance area at $2,665.

Gold price (XAU/USD) nudges higher on Monday’s early European session, favoured by its safe-aven status amid the increasing uncertainty in the Middle East after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.

Beyond that, The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) announced over the weekend that it resumed Gold purchases in November after a six-month pause, which is giving an additional boost to the precious metal.

Data from the US released on Friday revealed that the country’s labour market remains solid, but the increasing unemployment rate confirmed expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) would cut rates by 25 bps next week. This, and a mild risk appetite, are keeping US Dollar upside attempts limited.

Daily digest market movers: Fed easing, geopolitical concerns and China boost Gold

• China’s Gold reserves increased by 160,000 ounces to 72.96 million ounces in November from 72.80 million ounces in November. This has boosted expectations of further Gold appreciation and is likely to underpin demand for the precious metal.
   
• On Friday, Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data showed that the US economy added 227,000 new jobs in November, beating expectations of a 200,000 increase.
   
• The Unemployment rate, however, ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1% in the previous month, which kept hopes of a Fed rate cut in December intact.
   
• The CME Group’s Fed Watch shows an 87% chance of a quarter-point rate cut by the Fed next week, up from less than 70% last week.
   
• The Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields are ticking up on Monday after losing about 20 basis points in the last two weeks. This has offset the positive impact of the Trump trade and is adding pressure on the US Dollar.

Technical analysis: XAU/USD is approaching the channel top at $2,665

Gold is showing an increasing bullish momentum on Monday as the positive trend from last week's lows gathers steam. With fundamentals in its favour, the pair seems likely to retest the top of the last two weeks’ channel at $2,665.

Above here, the next target would be the $2,690 intra-day level, and the November 24 high, at $2,720. On the downside, the bottom of the mentioned channel is at $2,620. Below here, the next support is the November 25 low, at $2,605.

Gold 4-hour Chart