Difficult conditions for gold

The latest weekly gold survey shows Wall Street analysts are bearish for the current week, while sentiment among retail investors is roughly balanced. Analysts believe that the rise in U.S. bond yields, which reached a new 15-year high on Thursday, remains a significant restraining factor for gold. The slowdown in China's economy also deters investors.

According to Edward Moya, Senior Market analyst at OANDA, the yield on Treasury bonds is at a level that supports the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, and this is a difficult environment for gold. However, his opinion on gold prices for the current week is neutral, as he believes that bond yields are likely close to their peak, and gold sales dynamics are probably slowing down. For selling pressure on gold to persist, bond yields would need to continue rising.

But most analysts believe a decline in gold prices is more likely. Presumably, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, speaking at the annual central bank meeting in Jackson Hole on Friday, will maintain his hawkish stance. And rates will remain high going forward.

Last week, 16 Wall Street analysts participated in a gold survey. Among the participants, ten analysts, or 63%, were bearish for the current week. Two analysts, or 13%, were optimistic, while four analysts, or 25%, took a neutral stance.

In online polls, 941 votes were cast. Of those, 415 respondents, or 44%, expect price increases. Another 386, or 41%, favor price decreases, while 140 voters, or 15%, voted for a neutral position.

Despite this, Adrian Day, president of Adrian Day Asset Management, is bullish on prices for the next few months. He believes that investors should not ignore short-term price dynamics, as it is rare to see such a drop without any continuation, adding that this week may see a decrease in prices, but this will not affect long-term growth.

James Stanley, market strategist at Stone X, said even if Powell takes a neutral stance in Jackson Hole, gold will find it hard to change its bearish technical outlook. Likely, the technical support level will remain at $1875.