Will Gold Survive Another Moderna-Like Shot?

Once bitten, twice shy is the saying. In gold’s case, it appears that once pricked, it’s twice as strong.

A week ago, gold was on the mat, knocked out by Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine news that sapped almost 5% or $100 from the yellow metal—the most in a single day since August.

Fast forward one week later:

Gold took another sucker punch, this time from Moderna’s update on its coronavirus vaccine. But far from the knockout blow, this one landed gold on the ropes. After a moment, it was back on its feet, stung but not out.

Question: Has gold gotten past the scare of the COVID-19 jabs—which are as much a safeguard against the virus as they are an antithesis to a rally in the yellow metal?

Jeffrey Halley, Sydney-based analyst for New York brokerage OANDA, certainly thinks so, saying in a note issued early Tuesday: 

“After the trauma of the post-Pfizer price action, gold has now held its ascending trendline support three times over the past week. It suggests the momentum has now swung to the topside, especially with more easing from the Federal Reserve almost certain.”

The spot price of gold, which tracks bullion, took a hit of almost $26, or 1.64%, after the Moderna vaccine update. But it ended the day just about $2, or 0.1%, lower.

It remained in the red in Tuesday’s Asian session, but less than $1, or 0.02%, lower at $1,888.26.

Gold On A 'Lucky Break'?/h2

Halley noted that bullion did not slip beneath the $1864.50 support on Monday. For good measure, he remarked that Monday's finish of $1888.80 for the spot price was “as lucky a number in Asia as you are ever likely to see.” 

“All the more impressive was that gold rallied even as the US yield curve steepened,” he added, referring to the U.S. 10-year note.

For context, Moderna said its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19, versus Pfizer’s 90% efficacy. The Moderna product also needs just regular refrigeration versus the -90 Farenheit needed for Pfizer's vaccine.

With gold taking the latest vaccine development in stride, Halley has a topside target of $1905-$1907 for bulion, matching the 50 and 100-Day Moving Averages, respectively. 

If it breaches that range, his next aim is $1935.

Halley added:

“The ascending trendline support is at $1866.50 an ounce today, followed by the $1850.00 an ounce zone. A loss of $1850.00 an ounce would target a more significant retreat to the 200-DMA at $1789.00 an ounce.”

Still, he is loath to say gold is a one-way bet,  “unless it survives something like a Trump-tweet surprise that torpedoes equity markets violently”.

He adds:

“One caveat to the bullish outlook is that gold has yet to de-correlate itself from aggressive equity market selloffs.” 

Bullion’s 50-Day EMA Continues To Be 'Interesting'/h2

Gold chartist Christopher Lewis said Monday’s action showed significant support for bullion and the 50-day Exponential Moving Average was “going to continue to be interesting”.

He added in a blog posted on FX Empire:

“The fact that the indicator is sitting at the $1900 level suggests that the market is trying to see whether or not it can break above there. Ultimately though, we had that nasty red candlestick from last week that could continue to show signs of negativity, and typically do not have those types of candlesticks without some kind of continuation.”

“Furthermore, the $1800 level underneath would be the best place to be a buyer from what I see, due to the fact that it was the scene of a major breakout and of course the 200-day EMA is sitting there. All things being equal, this is an opportunity to pick up gold at a massive support level, but I also recognize that the market is going to be highly sensitive to the U.S. Dollar index as well, as we have had a massive negative correlation.”

Ultimately, it may be a matter of time before gold goes higher, said Lewis, though more choppy and difficult trading conditions might come first.

He adds:

“Therefore you probably need to look to the daily supportive candlestick before putting some type of money to work. Right now, we do not quite have that, but it is starting to stabilize a bit which is a good sign.”

Near Term Target Above $1,900 /h2

Sunil Kumar Dixit of SK Dixit Charting in Kolkata, India, says gold has been holding support at $1,890 and so long as this prevails, the $1901 target was a possibility.

He adds:

“Above this lies the resistance of $1,915, the 20 Week Simple Moving Average of $1,927 and critical resistance at $1,934.”

But Dixit also says that weakness below $1,890 can push gold toward a downside test of $1,860 and $1836.

“Extended sell off can mark the much anticipated bottom of $1,768 which coincides with the 50-week Exponential Moving Average."

Goldman Says On Course With Its $2,300 Target/h2

Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, is sticking to its 2021 bullion target of $2,300.

In a report published Friday, the investment bank said its outlook for gold was premised on the global economy returning to balance between positive news of potential vaccines for the COVID-19 and the still prevalent risks of further economic damage from more waves of the virus.

On my end, I find bullion still a “Sell” in the near-term, using Investing.com’s Daily Technical Indicator. Based on this projection, I envisage a three-tier support, which begins at $1,869.07 and progresses downward to $1,849.60, before final buying support that emerges at $1,834.46.

Should spot gold buck that call and turn upward, then it will likely find a three-tier near-term resistance instead that begins at $1903.68 and progresses to $1,918.82, before selling pressure that emerges after $1,938.28.

As with all projections, I urge you to follow the calls but temper them with fundamentals—and moderation—whenever possible.

Good luck

Disclaimer: Barani Krishnan uses a range of views outside his own to bring diversity to his analysis of any market. He does not own or hold a position in the commodities or securities he writes about.

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Written By: Investing.com