Gold Awaits Payrolls

Gold Prices Extend Losses Ahead of US NFP Report

Gold prices continued to trade in negative territory on Friday’s early European session, hovering near the US$4,450 level as investors awaited the highly anticipated US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report and monitored escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The precious metal remained under pressure as traders closely watched developments surrounding the US-Iran peace negotiations and the upcoming May US employment data, which could provide fresh direction for the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy outlook.

Gold Technical Analysis Signals Ongoing Bearish Momentum

On the daily chart, XAU/USD maintained a short-term bearish bias as prices continued trading below the 100-day Moving Average and beneath the midpoint of the Bollinger Bands, preserving the broader downward trend.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remained near 40, indicating weak momentum without entering oversold territory. This suggests sellers are still controlling the market while leaving room for additional downside movement before signs of exhaustion emerge.

On the upside, initial resistance is located near the Bollinger Bands midpoint around US$4,545. Stronger resistance levels are seen near the upper Bollinger Band at US$4,715 and the 100-day Moving Average around US$4,795 if a rebound develops.

Meanwhile, the first major support level stands near the lower Bollinger Band around US$4,370. A decisive break below this zone could trigger a deeper retracement, while holding above support may indicate a period of consolidation within the current bearish structure.

US-Iran Tensions Continue to Pressure Gold Market

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Wednesday that “no real progress” had been achieved in negotiations aimed at ending the Middle East conflict. He added that communication channels with Washington remain open but warned that any Israeli attack on Beirut during its campaign against Hezbollah could trigger a “full resumption” of the US-Iran conflict.

Despite Iran’s cautious stance, US President Donald Trump claimed that ceasefire negotiations were entering their “final stages.” On Wednesday, Iran reportedly launched missiles and drones toward Kuwait and Bahrain following a US strike on an oil tanker heading toward the Islamic Republic.

The lack of progress in ceasefire talks following the latest escalation in violence has intensified concerns over persistent inflation and higher interest rates, both of which continue to weigh on non-yielding assets such as gold.

Bart Melek of TD Securities noted that rising inflation expectations linked to supply shocks have pushed Treasury yields higher, strengthened the US dollar, and increased market expectations for another Federal Reserve rate hike by late 2026.

US Nonfarm Payrolls Data in Focus

Investors are now turning their attention to the upcoming US labor market report. Economists expect the May Nonfarm Payrolls report to show an increase of 85,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate is forecast to remain steady at 4.3%.

Any weaker-than-expected labor market data could pressure the US dollar and provide short-term support for gold and other US dollar-denominated commodities.

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Gold Prices Surge

Gold Prices Surge 1.7% as US Dollar and Treasury Yields Weaken

Global gold prices rallied sharply on Thursday after the US dollar weakened and US Treasury yields declined, boosting investor demand for safe-haven assets amid renewed optimism over easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Spot gold climbed 1.7% to US$4,505.35 per ounce at 9:05 a.m. New York time, while US gold futures for August delivery advanced 1.5% to US$4,532.80 per ounce.

The precious metal gained momentum after Israel and Lebanon announced a ceasefire agreement on Wednesday, raising hopes that negotiations between the United States and Iran could also move toward a peaceful resolution.

The development triggered a sharp decline in global oil prices, which fell more than 3% as traders anticipated smoother operations through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil shipments, if regional tensions continue to ease.

At the same time, the US Dollar Index slipped around 0.3%, making gold more affordable for holders of other currencies and increasing international demand for the metal.

Falling US Treasury yields, including the benchmark 10-year yield, also strengthened gold’s appeal since the precious metal does not provide interest returns.

Independent metals trader Tai Wong stated that weaker Treasury yields and a softer dollar helped gold remain above a key technical level, namely its 200-day moving average.

According to Wong, the possibility of gold reaching another record high this year will largely depend on future geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

“New record highs for gold could become more difficult if a permanent ceasefire with Iran is achieved, allowing the Strait of Hormuz to fully reopen, energy prices to decline, and market concerns over interest rates to ease,” Wong said.

Despite the latest rebound, gold prices remain significantly below the all-time high of US$5,594.82 per ounce recorded on January 29, 2026.

Since tensions involving Iran escalated in late February, gold prices have corrected by approximately 16%.

Investors are now awaiting the release of the US May employment data scheduled for Friday, as the report is expected to provide fresh clues regarding labor market conditions and the Federal Reserve’s future interest rate policy direction.

Meanwhile, other precious metals also posted gains. Spot silver surged 3.1% to US$74.96 per ounce, platinum rose 1.9% to US$1,895.29 per ounce, and palladium increased 1.6% to US$1,322.01 per ounce.

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Gold Near Lows

 

Gold Prices Hover Near Weekly Lows Amid Geopolitical Risks and Hawkish Fed Rate Expectations

Gold prices remained under selling pressure during the Asian trading session, with XAU/USD trading near the $4,465 level and staying close to its weekly low. Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer continue to weigh on the non-yielding precious metal.

Crude oil prices extended gains for a third consecutive session amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East, reigniting inflation concerns across global markets. The renewed inflation fears have strengthened speculation that major central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, could maintain a hawkish monetary policy stance for an extended period.

From a technical perspective, XAU/USD continues to trade within a bearish descending channel and below the 200-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the 4-hour chart. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains near 46, signaling slightly negative momentum without entering oversold territory. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator has slipped back below the zero line, highlighting fading recovery momentum within the broader downtrend structure.

The current technical setup suggests that any recovery attempt may face immediate resistance near the 200-period EMA around $4,598.83. Additional resistance is seen near the upper boundary of the descending channel at approximately $4,634.83. A decisive breakout above these levels would be needed to ease the current bearish sentiment.

On the downside, the lower boundary of the descending channel near $4,322.55 serves as the next major support level. A clear break below this zone could strengthen the ongoing bearish trend and trigger deeper losses for gold prices.

Geopolitical uncertainty has also helped the US Dollar maintain weekly gains, further pressuring gold prices. In the latest Middle East developments, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed conducting a “self-defense” strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island. In response, Iran reportedly launched missiles and drones targeting US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, although most attacks were intercepted by US and Gulf air defense systems.

At the same time, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified, while diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran remain stalled over Tehran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. The lack of progress in negotiations has increased fears of further escalation in the region and kept geopolitical risks elevated.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington would not lift sanctions on Iran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that sanctions relief depends on Iran surrendering its enriched uranium. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire alongside the continuation of the US blockade until negotiations are resolved.

These developments have supported crude oil prices, pushing them further away from last week’s one-month lows and intensifying inflation concerns. Investors now expect central banks to maintain tighter monetary policies, adding pressure on gold markets.

Adding to the hawkish outlook, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack reiterated that the Federal Reserve remains strongly committed to bringing inflation back to its 2% target and may need to act quickly if inflation pressures persist. According to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, traders are now pricing in more than a 50% probability of a 25-basis-point Fed rate hike during the December policy meeting.

Higher US Treasury yields and a stronger US Dollar continue to reduce the appeal of gold, contributing to the weaker sentiment surrounding the precious metal market.

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Gold Rebounds Higher

 

Gold Reclaims $4,500 as Israel–Hezbollah Ceasefire Weighs on US Dollar

Gold prices edged higher during the Asian trading session, although bullish momentum remained limited, with XAU/USD trading slightly above the key psychological level of $4,500. A partial ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel eased fears of a broader regional conflict, limiting further gains in the safe-haven US Dollar and offering support to bullion prices. However, uncertainty surrounding US-Iran peace negotiations, combined with persistent inflation concerns and expectations of higher interest rates, continued to weigh on demand for the precious metal.

Gold Technical Analysis: Bearish Bias Remains Intact

From a technical perspective, gold continues to trade within a descending parallel channel and remains below the 200-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart, keeping the bearish outlook intact. This structure suggests sellers are still in control despite moderate stabilization in momentum indicators.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering near the neutral 49 level, signaling balanced market conditions. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has slipped slightly into negative territory, indicating weakening bullish momentum.

On the upside, immediate resistance is seen around $4,615.35, followed by the 200-period SMA near $4,619.67 and the upper boundary of the descending channel at approximately $4,655.17. A sustained breakout above these levels would be required to ease current downside pressure.

On the downside, key support is located near the lower boundary of the bearish channel around $4,320.15. A decisive break below this level could reinforce the broader bearish trend and expose gold prices to deeper losses.

Israel–Hezbollah Ceasefire Limits USD Strength

US President Donald Trump announced on social media Monday that Israel had agreed to withdraw forces preparing to attack Beirut and Hezbollah-controlled suburbs. Trump also reportedly communicated with the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group through intermediaries and secured assurances that Hezbollah would refrain from launching attacks against Israel.

The limited de-escalation in geopolitical tensions failed to provide additional support for the US Dollar after its previous rally. However, mixed signals surrounding ongoing US-Iran negotiations to end the three-month-long conflict continued to influence market sentiment and the direction of the greenback.

Iran warned that it could suspend negotiations with the United States following renewed Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Nevertheless, Trump insisted that peace talks with Iran were still ongoing, adding that a deal to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be reached within the coming week.

Despite these developments, investors remain cautious and are waiting for clearer progress in US-Iran negotiations before taking stronger market positions.

Focus Turns to US Economic Data and Nonfarm Payrolls

Market participants are now closely watching upcoming US economic data, including the JOLTS Job Openings report, for fresh trading direction during the North American session. However, investor focus will remain firmly on Friday’s highly anticipated US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report, which could significantly influence US Dollar demand and gold price volatility.

At the same time, further developments in the Middle East crisis are expected to increase volatility across global financial markets and create new trading opportunities for gold prices. Overall, the current fundamental backdrop still appears to favor bearish sentiment for XAU/USD.

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Gold Outlook Bullish

 

Gold Prices Expected to Stay Bullish as Market Outlook Remains Strong Through Year-End

Gold prices are projected to remain at elevated levels through the third quarter of 2026 despite easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Analysts believe the weakening rupiah and expectations of global monetary policy easing will continue supporting precious metal prices in the coming months.

According to Trading Economics data on Monday (June 1, 2026) at 08:10 WIB, spot gold prices stood at US$4,527 per troy ounce. Although prices fell 0.62% over the past week, gold still recorded a 0.40% monthly gain.

Meanwhile, silver prices were recorded at US$74.90 per troy ounce, down 3.26% weekly. However, silver still posted a monthly increase of 3.87%.

Commodity analyst and Traderindo founder Wahyu Laksono stated that the rise in gold prices throughout this year has been driven by a combination of geopolitical sentiment, global central bank interest rate policies, US dollar movements, and strong investment demand.

According to Wahyu, the market was previously overshadowed by a spike in oil prices due to disruptions in energy distribution routes in the Middle East. However, hopes for a potential agreement between the United States and Iran have started to reduce market concerns over global oil supply risks.

“The easing geopolitical tensions have pushed oil prices lower again. However, gold continues to gain support from expectations of monetary easing and strong demand as a safe-haven asset,” Wahyu told Kontan on Friday (May 29, 2026).

He explained that signals of interest rate cuts from major global central banks, especially the Federal Reserve (The Fed), have become one of the main factors supporting gold prices. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, increasing investor demand.

In addition, the weakening US Dollar Index (DXY) and declining US Treasury yields have also provided room for precious metals to strengthen further.

On the other hand, continued gold purchases by central banks across various countries remain another important factor supporting prices. The trend of diversifying foreign exchange reserves is expected to keep global gold demand strong.

Wahyu estimates global gold prices could continue trading within the range of US$4,000 to US$5,000 per troy ounce during the third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, support levels are projected to remain around US$4,350 to US$4,400 per troy ounce if corrections occur.

Silver prices, meanwhile, are expected to move more volatilely within the range of US$60 to US$108 per troy ounce. According to Wahyu, silver could potentially record more aggressive gains than gold if industrial demand, especially from the green energy and manufacturing sectors, rebounds.

For the Indonesian domestic market, Wahyu believes Antam gold prices still have room to rise, although not as dramatically as the surge seen in 2025.

He noted that the weakening rupiah exchange rate remains the primary factor keeping domestic gold prices elevated. Since local gold prices are based on global gold prices converted into rupiah using the US dollar exchange rate, currency depreciation continues supporting higher prices.

“This condition keeps Antam gold prices potentially staying at high levels even if global gold prices experience corrections,” Wahyu said.

By the end of the year, Wahyu forecasts Antam gold prices to move within the range of Rp2,650,000 to Rp3,000,000 per gram. The projection assumes global gold prices remain between US$4,000 and US$5,000 per troy ounce, while the rupiah exchange rate fluctuates between Rp17,000 and Rp18,000 per US dollar.

He added that if the rupiah weakens beyond Rp18,000 per US dollar, Antam gold prices could potentially surpass Rp3,000,000 per gram.

In the medium term, Wahyu projects Antam gold prices could climb further toward Rp3,500,000 to Rp4,000,000 per gram as the bullish outlook for global gold prices remains intact.

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Pani Gold Expansion

Merdeka Gold Begins Deep Drilling at Pani Mine, Gold Potential Reaches 7 Million Ounces

A subsidiary of PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk (MDKA), PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk (EMAS), has officially commenced a 3,600-meter diamond deep drilling program at the Pani Gold Mine as the company targets a significant increase in mineral resources estimated at around 7 million ounces of gold.

President Director of Merdeka Gold Resources, Boyke Abidin, stated that the Pani Gold Mine located in Gorontalo currently holds an estimated mineral resource of 291.5 million tons with an average gold grade of 0.75 g/t. The massive resource potential, equivalent to approximately 7 million ounces of gold, is expected to support the long-term development of the mining project.

Boyke explained that the current mineral resource estimate is derived from an exploration area covering 135 hectares out of the company’s total concession area of 14,670 hectares. Previous exploration activities have shown strong indications of mineralization extending beyond the boundaries of the earlier drilling programs.

Therefore, the 3,600-meter diamond drilling campaign has been specifically designed to evaluate the potential expansion of the existing resource base. Through this latest drilling initiative, the Pani project aims to test the continuity of gold mineralization at much deeper zones in the future.

“With production activities beginning at Pani, the company is now in a stronger strategic position to continue testing deeper mineralization potential through six carefully designed drill holes,” Boyke stated in an official statement received by Kontan.co.id on Friday (May 29, 2026).

The initial phase of the drilling program includes six drill holes, with one drilling rig already operating on-site. Meanwhile, a second rig is scheduled to begin full operations next month to accelerate the drilling process.

If the initial results show positive potential, the company is prepared to expand the drilling program on a much larger scale.

“This program also offers flexibility for further expansion if drilling results indicate positive potential,” he added.

In addition, Boyke noted positive progress in the exploration program at the Kolokoa working area. The project has completed its initial drilling campaign consisting of 54 drill holes totaling 11,701.6 meters, with an investment value of USD 2.4 million.

Based on these results, the company is currently preparing the maiden mineral resource estimate for Kolokoa, which is targeted for release in the second quarter of 2026 to provide greater market certainty.

Furthermore, the mining issuer also plans to expand its exploration network to the Lone Pine area in the second half of 2026. EMAS is set to conduct geophysical surveys using Mobile Magnetotelluric and helicopter-based airborne magnetic surveys in June or July.

All data from the latest drilling activities will be publicly disclosed following compliance with JORC Code 2012 and KCMI 2017 reporting standards.

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