Gold Takes a Dive: Trade Talks and Treasury Yields Steal the Spotlight

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Gold prices tumbled sharply on Wednesday, breaking below the critical $3,200 mark for the first time since April 11. The drop, over 2% on the day, was fueled by a wave of renewed risk appetite among investors following positive developments in global trade and a surge in US Treasury yields.

The catalyst for the selloff was a breakthrough in US-China trade talks, with both sides agreeing to suspend reciprocal tariffs for 90 days. This truce, combined with reports of imminent trade deals with Japan and South Korea, eased fears of a global recession and shifted capital away from traditional safe havens like gold. As stock markets rallied worldwide, gold’s appeal as a hedge against uncertainty diminished.

Adding to the pressure, US Treasury bond yields climbed, reflecting expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain a cautious stance on interest rates. Despite softer inflation data in April, Fed officials signaled a wait-and-see approach, prompting traders to scale back bets on aggressive rate cuts this year. Higher yields increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as gold, further undermining its price.

Technical factors also played a role. Gold slipped below the 20-day moving average and breached the lower boundary of a bullish pennant formation, a move that could signal a deeper retracement toward key Fibonacci support levels. If prices fail to recover above $3,200, analysts warn of potential declines toward $3,161 and even $3,057.

Despite the pullback, gold remains in a broader consolidation phase, having recently touched an all-time high near $3,500 in April. The long-term bullish structure is intact, but the near-term direction will depend on upcoming economic data, particularly US Producer Price Index and Retail Sales figures, which could influence the Fed’s next moves.

Key Highlights

Gold fell below $3,200, its lowest level in over a month, down more than 2% on the day

US-China tariff truce and positive trade diplomacy boosted global risk appetite, reducing demand for safe havens

Rising US Treasury yields and a cautious Federal Reserve stance weighed on gold

Technical breakdown below $3,200 signals risk of deeper correction

Markets await US inflation and retail sales data for further direction

Sources: FXStreet, CNBC, TalkMarkets