Gold prices pushed higher on Monday, extending last week's strong upward momentum to reach levels not seen since May 15. The precious metal trades around $4,644, registering a daily gain of nearly 0.90 percent, supported by the ongoing effects of the US Treasury's recent debt buyback announcements.
Dollar Debasement and US Treasury Moves
Market strategists point out that concerns regarding currency debasement have resurfaced as a dominant market theme following the US Treasury's unexpected expansion of its long-end buyback programme. Observers note this intervention signals official discomfort with the recent climb in long-term yields. The subsequent unwinding of steepener positions has reinforced broader debasement trades, feeding directly into a softer US dollar, a resurgence in gold, and higher inflation breakeven rates.
Concurrently, the US Dollar has found some footing following last week's sharp pullback. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the greenback against a basket of six major international currencies, hovers near 98.98, up roughly 0.13 percent for the session.
Geopolitical Tensions and Energy Inflation Risks
Energy-driven inflation risks remain a central focus as ongoing geopolitical strains in the Middle East continue to choke off commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is reportedly preparing a fresh package of sanctions against Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent scheduled to unveil what administration officials describe as economic D-Day measures against Tehran.
Technical Indicators and Key Price Levels
From a technical standpoint, XAU/USD retains a solid near-term bullish structure, holding comfortably above both its 200-day and 100-day simple moving averages. The prevailing uptrend finds backing in a moderately firm Average Directional Index reading of 33.67, though the daily Relative Strength Index has climbed to 71, slipping into overbought territory and signaling that upside momentum is stretched yet firmly in control.
Immediate resistance on the upside is pegged at the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level of $4,685, followed by the cycle high anchor near the 100.0% retracement of $4,886. Conversely, initial downside support is identified at the 61.8% retracement of $4,528, closely reinforced by the 200-day SMA at $4,516 to create a solid demand cluster. Deeper downside buffers reside at the 50.0% retracement of $4,417 and the 100-day SMA at $4,379, with structural floors further down at $4,307 and $4,170.
Historical Appeal and Central Bank Accumulation
Throughout human history, gold has served as an enduring store of value and medium of exchange. Beyond its ornamental appeal in jewelry, the precious metal is universally recognized as a premier safe-haven asset during periods of economic turbulence, acting as an effective hedge against both domestic inflation and currency depreciation.
Central banks remain the largest institutional holders of gold, utilizing the asset to diversify reserves and bolster economic stability during volatile times. According to data published by the World Gold Council, central banks accumulated a record 1,136 tonnes of gold valued at approximately $70 billion in 2022, led by aggressive reserve building from emerging market economies such as China, India, and Turkey.
Treasury Buyback Shift and Broader Forex Trends
In a departure from its regular schedule, the US Treasury announced it would at least double the scale of liquidity support buyback operations in the 10-year to 30-year sectors, lifting maximum limits from $2 billion to $4 billion per operation through November 4. In broader currency markets, the GBP/USD pair trades under pressure near mid-1.3600s, while the EUR/USD pair remains defensive below 1.1700 as the greenback attempts a tentative recovery amid ongoing trade tensions.
