Volatile Price ActionIt’s been a wild start to the week for the gold market today. Gold futures surged higher by more than 4.3% over the Asian session, hitting fresh all-time highs of around $2145 before reversing sharply lower, now back in the red on the session. The move follows a solid rally on Friday which saw the market trading up to test the 2069.41 level.
Shifting Central Bank ExpectationsThe spike in gold can be attributed to the stark shift in central bank expectations. The Fed and the ECB are now both seen cutting rates early next year. In the US, a sharp drop in both CPI and employment indicators last month has seen traders stripping back their tightening forecasts and instead pegging rate cuts across H1.
NFPs on FridayLooking ahead this week, the main focus will be on the next round of US labor market data. With fears the US economy is slowing down, a further weak print this time around should help cement the view that rate cuts are coming, putting further pressure on USD and allowing gold prices to trade higher near-term. On the other hand, if we see any unexpected strength in Friday’s data, this might fuel some repricing of US rate projections, stalling the USD decline and affecting a reversal lower in gold.
Technical ViewsGold 
Despite the bullish outlook, gold is at risk of forming a blow off top here. A bearish close today will mark a large bearish pin-bar candle at higher, with bearish divergence on momentum studies, putting focus on a turn lower back to the 1973.51 level. Back above 2069.41, however, the focus remains on further upside and a continuation higher. More By This Author:Gold Commentary – Friday, December 1Crude Oil Commentary – Friday, Dec. 1Eurozone Commentary – Thursday, November 30
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