SMM July 2 News: Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh stated on Wednesday that US inflation upside risks have clearly cooled over the past four weeks, easing market concerns about aggressive rate hikes; he also indicated that no further forward guidance would be released on subsequent interest rate policy, refusing to disclose whether the US Fed needs to consider a rate hike at its next meeting; the US dollar weakened, and precious metals rebounded. As of around 16:09 on July 2, COMEX gold dropped 0.11% to $4,077.9/ounce; SHFE gold main contract rose 1.53% to 890.66 yuan/g; COMEX silver dropped 1.1% to $59.845/ounce; SHFE silver main contract rose 1.91% to 14,650 yuan/kg; silver T+D rose 2.95% to 14,551 yuan/kg. In the precious metals stock market, as of the close on July 2, the precious metals sector rose 4.21%, with individual stocks: Zhaojin Gold and Chifeng Gold hit their daily limit up, while Shanjin International, Xiaocheng Technology, Zhongjin Gold, and Western Gold led the gains. News [Warsh: Inflation Eases Over Past Four Weeks, AI Is Reshaping Economy, Forward Guidance Loses Necessity] On July 1, at the ECB's annual central bank forum in Sintra, Portugal, Warsh again clearly stated that the US Fed would not provide forward guidance on the future interest rate path , hoping that policymakers can engage in thorough discussions based on the latest data at each meeting, rather than previewing the policy direction to the market in advance. He said that US inflation risks had eased over the past four weeks, and the supply expansion brought by AI could profoundly change how the economy operates, with the US at the center of this transformation, but whether AI ultimately leads to inflation or deflation should be judged by the central bank based on data. Warsh said the US Fed is “charting a new path” and will no longer hint at the direction of interest rates in advance as it did in the past. He said: “We will hold our next meeting in four weeks, and I hope we can have a real family-style debate then.” He reiterated that forward guidance is not the right policy in the current economic situation, and the US Fed will continue to base its decisions on the latest economic data in the future, rather than committing to a policy path in advance. This means that the US Fed will rely more on real-time economic data rather than sending policy signals to the market in advance. Spot Market Silver In the spot market: On July 2, the reference average factory price of SMM 1# silver in the morning was 14,558 yuan/kg, up 3.35% from the previous trading day. In the spot market, overall offers remained firm early in the month, but transaction follow-through was slightly weak, and consumption performance fell short of expectations. As silver prices rebounded slightly, downstream wait-and-see sentiment intensified. In Shanghai, morning offers were mainly at TD+5 to +15 yuan/kg. Some smelters quoted on the high side, but actual buying interest was weak, with most deals clustered around TD+10 yuan/kg. In other regions, low-priced cargoes had basically been cleared, while offers in Shenzhen were mostly around TD+5-10 yuan/kg. Today, the market quoted premiums for the SHFE most-traded contract 2608 at a discount of 30 to 20 yuan/kg. Overall, a slight cooling in rate-hike expectations provided some support for precious metals prices. At the start of the month, the spot direction remained unclear. Maintenance at copper plants last month caused a slight disruption on the supply side, and offers generally maintained a slight premium structure. Views From Various Parties Regarding the outlook for precious metals, some institutions’ views are as follows: On July 1, the World Gold Council released the “2026 Mid-Year Outlook for the Global Gold Market.” Looking ahead to H2, gold’s valuation framework indicated that gold will continue to serve as a barometer of the global macro economy, with three main possible scenarios. From current levels, gold prices were broadly in line with market consensus: the market expected the US Fed to raise rates at least once in 2026, most likely in October; the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, and the European Central Bank were all set to tighten policy; and US Q2 inflation was expected to peak, near $3.9. If there were no major changes in the above environment, gold prices may trade around $4,100/oz within the year, with a fluctuation range of about ±5. If geopolitical or economic conditions deteriorate, or if interest-rate expectations shift, gold is expected to regain its upward momentum; however, only sufficiently strong signals of a global economic slowdown would be likely to drive a breakout to the upside. On the downside, a stronger US dollar, rate hikes exceeding expectations, and a rebound in market risk appetite were the main headwinds for gold prices; if gold prices remain below $4,000/oz, it may trigger further selling. However, based on historical performance, if gold prices fall by more than 10% from current levels, it may trigger “buy-the-dip” demand from long-term investors in multiple regions. State Street Investment Management said that, as the opportunity cost of holding gold and heightened volatility weighed on investor sentiment, bullish gold trades had been weak, and spot gold prices repeatedly tested the $4,000/oz support level. State Street believed that, although gold prices may be more volatile than in 2024-2025, the gold bull-cycle still has upside room, and the US Fed’s hawkish policy shift was expected not to change gold’s post-pandemic structural trend. State Street noted, “Since the US-Iran conflict, China’s retail gold imports have surged, and local premiums have risen in tandem, reflecting tightening fundamentals in China’s gold supply-demand balance.”State Street expects that over the next six to nine months gold prices could rise to the $4,750 to $5,500 per ounce range, with strong support in the $3,750 to $4,000 per ounce area. However, compared with the macro environment from January to February, the probability of gold prices reaching $5,500 to $6,250 per ounce is relatively small. (Zhitong Finance) State Street Investment Management strategists noted in a report that gold prices could reach $5,000 per ounce by early 2027, as the gold bull cycle remains persistent. They believe that as U.S. government debt rises, gold's role as a currency hedge is expected to be supported, while actual demand for gold remains strong. Global gold fund holdings (as a share of global mutual fund and exchange-traded fund assets) currently remain below State Street's target allocation of 3% to 10% for most portfolios. Moreover, they added that a hawkish pivot by the Fed should not alter gold’s structural post-pandemic trend. State Street expects base bullion prices to rise to $4,750 to $5,500 per ounce in the next six to nine months. (Jinshi Data APP) Analysts at Saxo Bank said, "The market has not yet attracted enough buying interest to establish that level as a support level." They also pointed out, "Even though energy prices have pulled back recently, investors still expect the Fed may further tighten monetary policy to combat an inflation rebound, and as a result, gold prices fell 14% in Q2, marking the worst quarterly performance since 2013." (Jinshi Data APP) CICC's latest research report pointed out that gold may have already overpriced rate hike expectations. Fed rate hikes are still not the base case, and the gold market may have overly priced in rate hike expectations, leaving room for a pullback this year. CICC's macro team believes that employment and consumption pressures, along with the expanding financing needs of the U.S. AI economy, may make it difficult for the Fed to materially turn hawkish, and monetary policy may be "hawkish in words but dovish in action." Based on the implied interest rate expectations model from gold prices, it is estimated that the current gold price around $4,000 per ounce has fully priced in three to four rate hikes, exceeding the rate hike expectations priced in by the interest rate futures market. Looking ahead, after the decline in oil prices is further reflected in U.S. short-term inflation data, the gold market's pricing of rate hike expectations may be corrected, and futures market short-term funds may have opportunities to cover short positions. (Jinshi Data APP) Li Xunlei, Deputy Director of the China Chief Economist Forum, pointed out that gold's long-term trend exhibits long bear markets and short bull markets. Since 1971, 30 years have been bear markets and 25 years have been bull markets, but each bull market has seen gains of over fivefold. A bull market typically lasts around 10 years. This gold bull run has now lasted nearly 10 years, with prices tripling during that time, so caution is warranted at this stage. (Jin10 Data App) Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Hsueh said the bank has cut its Q3 gold price forecast by over 20% to $4,300/oz and lowered its Q4 forecast by 17% to $4,800/oz. "Potential investors who would normally provide support are notably absent," he said, pointing to weak demand for exchange-traded funds and reduced buying appetite in some countries. (Jin10 Data App) Macquarie said profit-taking weighed on silver prices last month, and price action is once again driven by macro factors amid rising expectations for US Fed interest rate hikes. Similar to gold, silver prices are expected to move sideways for the rest of the year, then gradually decline into 2027, with inflationary pressures and the likelihood of further US Fed rate hikes limiting upside room. The higher inflation and bond yields, the greater the downward pressure. Silver, in particular, has been more susceptible to a pullback after outperforming gold, driven by bullish sentiment fueled by supply tightens, low inventory, and strong demand. Historically, silver pullbacks tend to be rapid. Macquarie expects silver to trade at $70/oz in Q4 this year and pull back to $65/oz by the end of 2027. (Jin10 Data APP) Recommended reads:

SMM June 27 News: Metals market: Last Friday’s overnight session saw nearly all base metals on the domestic market rise. SHFE zinc gained 2.16%, SHFE copper rose 0.9%, SHFE aluminum edged up 0.81%, and SHFE tin advanced 1.66%. SHFE nickel increased 0.36%. SHFE lead dipped 0.37%. In addition, the most-traded alumina futures contract climbed 0.64%, while the most-traded foundry aluminum contract rose 1.66%. Last Friday’s overnight session saw mostly gains in ferrous metals. Stainless steel added 0.48%, iron ore rose 0.54%, and rebar slipped 0.1%. Hot-rolled coil was flat at 3,312 yuan/mt. In coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal futures contract gained 1.13%, and the most-traded coke futures contract rose 1.21%. Last Friday’s overnight session in overseas metals saw broad gains for LME base metals. LME copper edged up. LME aluminum rose 0.39%, while LME lead fell 0.58%. LME zinc gained 1.8%. LME tin advanced 1.69%. LME nickel dipped 0.36%. Last Friday’s overnight session in precious metals : COMEX gold rose 1.37%, but COMEX gold posted a fourth consecutive weekly decline, down 3.37% for the week; COMEX silver gained 1.37%, while COMEX silver fell for a seventh straight week, down 10.79% for the week. Last Friday’s overnight session saw the most-traded SHFE gold contract rise 1.34%, but SHFE gold declined on a weekly basis, down 6.33% for the week; the most-traded SHFE silver contract climbed 2.61%, while SHFE silver declined on a weekly basis, down 15.23% for the week. Macquarie strategists noted that all eyes are currently on the trajectory of inflation and whether central banks, particularly the US Fed, will tighten policy to control prices. The apparent end of the Middle East conflict, combined with a more hawkish Fed stance, has led to a pullback in gold prices. The first meeting under new Fed Chair Walsh struck a “hawkish” tone, with the central bank under his leadership having the capacity to either “drive or suppress” the gold market. The shock from the Middle East situation is expected to drag on global growth in Q3, after which an eventual rebound in global growth and the start of a monetary easing cycle should push gold prices lower, as more investor funds rotate out of precious metals and into other assets. Investors have been taking profits and rotating into equities, which has created room for re-entry into precious metals and could drive a price rebound, but a significant macro event may be needed to reignite investor interest in gold. Spot gold prices are forecast to average $4,641 in 2026, up 35% YoY, but the average price is expected to decline 9.5% to $4,200 in 2027, followed by yearly declines through 2030. The bank lowered its year-end spot gold forecast to $4,300 from $4,400. (Jin10 Data APP) As of 7:46 a.m. on June 27, closing prices from last Friday’s overnight session: Macro front China: [National Bureau of Statistics (NBS): Profits of China’s industrial enterprises above designated size grew 18.8% in January–May, with the electronics sector providing significant support] Data from the NBS showed that total profits of industrial enterprises above designated size nationwide reached 3,143.96 billion yuan in January–May, up 18.8% YoY. From January to May, among industrial enterprises above designated size, state-controlled enterprises realized total profits of 1,048.66 billion yuan, up 19.6% YoY; joint-stock enterprises realized total profits of 2,434.81 billion yuan, up 24.1% YoY; foreign-invested enterprises and those funded by Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan investors realized total profits of 695.72 billion yuan, up 4.2% YoY; and private enterprises realized total profits of 772.65 billion yuan, up 10.7% YoY. Yu Weining, chief statistician of the Industrial Department of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), interpreted the profit data of industrial enterprises for January–May 2026. Yu Weining noted that the electronics sector played a significant supporting role. From January to May, profits of the equipment manufacturing industry above designated size increased by 14.1% YoY, boosting the overall profit growth of industrial enterprises above designated size by 5.2 percentage points. From an industry perspective, the global AI technology revolution has led to explosive demand for high-end computing power chips and memory chips, driving rapid profit growth in the electronics sector. From January to May, profits of the electronics industry surged 103.9% YoY, contributing 43.1% to the profit growth of all industrial enterprises above designated size, making it a crucial underpinning for the relatively rapid profit growth of these enterprises. [Series of 7 National Standards for "Artificial Intelligence — Agent Interconnection" Released] At a press conference held by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), it was announced that the series of national standards "Artificial Intelligence — Agent Interconnection" has been officially released. With the rapid iteration of technologies such as large models, artificial intelligence is accelerating from the stage of perception and understanding into a new phase of generative decision-making and autonomous execution. An agent, as an intelligent system with capabilities in autonomous perception, memory, decision-making, interaction, and execution, represents an important application form of next-generation AI. It is also a key vehicle for AI technology to empower diverse industries and underpin high-quality development of the intelligent economy. The seven national standards in the "Artificial Intelligence — Agent Interconnection" series released this time comprehensively cover core aspects including overall architecture, identity codes, identity management, agent description, agent discovery, agent interaction, and agent tool invocation. They systematically establish a closed-loop standards framework encompassing "identity identification—capability description—supply-demand discovery—collaborative interaction—tool invocation," effectively filling the standard gap in this field. With unified architecture and interaction rules established through these standards, enterprises can reuse standardized components, reduce customized development, and shorten time-to-market. At the same time, they lay an institutional foundation for cross-domain trustworthiness and secure interaction by establishing unified identity authentication and full traceability mechanisms. (CCTV News) The People's Bank of China and the General Administration of Customs have issued a notice to solicit public opinions on the "Administrative Measures for the Import and Export of Gold and Gold Products (Draft for Comments)." (From Wall Street CN APP) [Three Departments: Further Improve Work Related to Collection of Mineral Rights Transfer Proceeds] The Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Natural Resources, and State Taxation Administration have issued a notice on further improving the collection of mineral rights transfer proceeds, clarifying that late payment penalties for mineral rights transfer proceeds will no longer be collected starting August 1, 2026. If a mining rights holder fails to pay the mineral rights transfer proceeds in full and on time, a penalty of 0.2% per day will be charged from the date of default, with the total penalty not exceeding the principal amount owed. Penalties for mineral rights transfer proceeds will be recorded under the mineral rights transfer proceeds category and shared between central and local governments according to the same proportion as mineral rights transfer proceeds. Late payment penalties that have already accrued before the implementation of this notice shall continue to be paid in accordance with previous regulations, and penalty charges will not apply. US Dollar: The overnight US dollar index fell 0.1% last Friday, closing at 101.36. On a weekly basis, the dollar index recorded its second consecutive weekly gain, rising 0.6% for the week. US Treasury yields and the dollar edged lower as oil prices declined and the market reassessed the US interest rate outlook. The CME FedWatch Tool shows the probability of one rate hike this year remains high at 42%, while the chance of a second hike has dropped to 28% from 34% a week ago as inflation expectations cool. A Wall Street Journal survey indicates the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, set to be released at 10 a.m. US Eastern Time (10 p.m. Beijing Time), is expected to rise from 44.8 to 49. (Jinshi Data APP) Reuters Poll: 78 of 102 economists surveyed expect the Fed to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% in 2026, compared with 72 of 102 economists who held this view in the early June survey. Artem Sakhbiev, FX strategist at BCA Research, said in a report that the recent rebound in the US dollar appears somewhat overextended and lacks the support needed to break out of the trading range of the past year. The Fed revised its interest rate projections upward at last week's meeting and explicitly focused on inflation. This led to a significant rise in inflation-adjusted real yields and eased concerns about political pressure for rate cuts, thereby boosting the dollar. However, this move now appears largely exhausted. The Fed is likely to hold rates steady, and the spread between short- and long-term yields could widen. (Jinshi Data APP) According to Nick Timiraos, known as the "Fed mouthpiece," sources say the search for a new president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta has reached an impasse. The initial list of candidates failed to yield a final selection, forcing the bank to restart the selection process, which has now lasted seven months. On the surface, this was just a minor procedural hiccup. But at the same time, the independence of the US Fed is facing a severe test. Reserve Bank presidents are crucial to the Fed's independence: they participate in setting interest rates, and their appointment process is deliberately designed to avoid influence from Washington politics. (Jin10 Data App) Fed official Kashkari stated that signs of widespread inflation led him to expect one rate hike this year in the Fed economic forecasts released earlier this month. Rates are expected to remain unchanged in 2027. In a media interview on Friday, Kashkari said: "I am concerned about inflation, not just related to the Middle East situation, but signs of broader inflationary pressures in the economy." The Iran war pushed up oil prices, and prices rose across many categories. This has intensified concerns among some Fed officials that inflation is becoming more broad-based and persistent, potentially requiring stronger action from the central bank. A report released earlier this week showed the May PCE annual rate came in at 4.1%, the largest increase since April 2023. Prices have exceeded the Fed's 2% target for over five years. In the dot plot forecasts released by the Fed last week, half of the officials who submitted dot plot projections expected at least one rate hike this year. (Jin10 Data App) The US goods trade deficit widened to its highest level in over a year in May, as exports fell and imports rose. Data released by the Commerce Department on Friday showed the goods trade deficit expanded 27.4% from the previous month to $105.8 billion, compared to an expected deficit of $85 billion. US goods exports fell 5.4% in May, dragged down mainly by declines in multiple categories, including shipments of industrial supplies. This category covers crude oil and petroleum products. Over the same period, imports rose 3.6%. (From Wall Street CN APP) In other currency news: As London experiences record-breaking heat, Bank of England officials are starting to worry that weather could become the next shock driving up inflation, just as the previous supply shock is fading. Climate scientists increasingly expect a strong El Niño event to form later this year into 2027, disrupting global weather patterns. Now, economists are also concerned this could trigger a new round of supply shocks, push up food inflation, and once again frustrate global central banks' efforts to fight inflation. (From Wall Street CN APP) On the macro front: This week will see the release of data including the Eurozone June industrial sentiment index, Eurozone June economic sentiment index, US June Dallas Fed business activity index, Japan May unemployment rate, China June official manufacturing PMI, UK Q1 GDP annual rate final, UK Q1 current account, France June CPI monthly rate preliminary, Switzerland June KOF economic leading indicator, Germany June seasonally adjusted unemployment change, Germany June seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, Germany June CPI monthly rate preliminary, Canada April GDP monthly rate, US April FHFA house price index monthly rate, US April S&P/CS 20-City non-seasonally adjusted house price index annual rate, US June Chicago PMI, US May JOLTS job openings, US June Conference Board consumer confidence index, China June RatingDog manufacturing PMI, France June manufacturing PMI final, Germany June manufacturing PMI final, Eurozone June manufacturing PMI final, UK June manufacturing PMI final, Eurozone June CPI annual rate preliminary, Eurozone June CPI monthly rate preliminary, US June Challenger job cuts, US June ADP employment change, US June S&P Global manufacturing PMI final, US June ISM manufacturing PMI, US May construction spending monthly rate, Switzerland June CPI monthly rate, Eurozone May unemployment rate, US June unemployment rate, US June seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls, US initial jobless claims for the week ending June 27, US June average hourly earnings annual rate, US June average hourly earnings monthly rate, US May factory orders monthly rate, China June RatingDog services PMI, France May industrial output monthly rate, France June services PMI final, Germany June services PMI final, Eurozone June services PMI final, UK June services PMI final, and other data. Additionally, this week, attention should be paid to: 2027 FOMC voter and Richmond Fed President Barkin delivering a speech; the ECB holding its Central Bank Forum in Sintra through July 1; the 2026 Beijing Space Computing Conference taking place from June 29 to 30; ECB President Lagarde speaking in Sintra; the Reserve Bank of Australia releasing the minutes of its June monetary policy meeting; the ECB holding its Central Bank Forum in Sintra; the US and Iran holding technical negotiations (to be confirmed); Fed Chairman Walsh, ECB President Lagarde, Bank of England Governor Bailey, and Bank of Canada Governor Macklem speaking at the ECB Forum; the ECB holding its Central Bank Forum in Sintra; ECB President Lagarde delivering a speech; Bank of England Governor Bailey speaking on the coordination of fiscal and monetary policy; and a new round of domestic refined oil product price adjustments opening in China. It is worth noting that on July 1, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Market was closed for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day, with both Northbound and Southbound trading shut. On July 3, the US-NYSE was closed for the US Independence Day holiday; trading in CME precious metals, energy, foreign exchange, US Treasury, and equity index futures contracts ended early at 01:00 Beijing time on the 4th due to the US Independence Day holiday; trading in ICE Brent crude oil futures contracts ended early at 01:30 Beijing time on the 4th due to the US Independence Day holiday. In crude oil: Both oil futures fell in overnight trading last Friday, with US oil dropping 2.34% and Brent oil dropping 2.52%. On a weekly basis, US oil futures recorded a three-week losing streak, falling 7.4% for the week; Brent oil futures also fell for a third straight week, dropping 8.06% for the week. Brent spot crude oil prices fell back to pre-war levels, and the near-month contracts exhibited a contango structure—where near-term prices are lower than those further out—for seven consecutive days, reflecting a temporary oversupply. Tariq Zahir, a managing member at Tyche Capital Advisors, indicated that oil prices had "dropped too fast, too furiously," the ceasefire agreement remained fragile, and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz was still fraught with variables, so fluctuations were expected to persist. Rich Privorotsky, head of Goldman Sachs' One-Delta business, pointed out that Iran had begun a show of force near the Strait of Hormuz, some cargo ships had altered their routes, and the inventory overhang in the Gulf region was gradually flowing into the market. He believed that while the probability of a significant near-term price rise in crude oil was limited, the basis for a further substantial drop from current prices was equally insufficient. (From Wallstreetcn APP) US natural gas drilling rig additions recorded the largest single-week increase in four years. Data from Baker Hughes showed that the number of active oil drilling rigs operated by US energy enterprises reached 440 last week, marking a two-week consecutive increase, up from 433 the previous week. Active natural gas drilling rigs rose to 573, recording the largest gain since June 2022, compared with the prior figure of 563. (From Wall Street Cn APP) A report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicated that US refining capacity decreased by 263,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2025, a decline of 1.43%. This was primarily driven by the planned conversion of a major refinery in Houston and the closure of a refinery in the Los Angeles area due to market dynamics, which is known for strict environmental regulations. Marathon Petroleum, headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, maintained its position as the largest US refiner with a total refining capacity of 2.986 million bpd, accounting for 16.4% of the nation’s total capacity. (From Wall Street Cn APP) Furthermore, Iraq’s Ministry of Oil stated that OPEC has begun to gradually restore Iraq’s pre-war production quota, a move which will strengthen Iraq’s output capabilities and support the recovery of the oil sector. A high-level consensus has been reached within OPEC, fully taking into account Iraq’s past special circumstances and current actual needs. (From Wall Street Cn APP) Barclays said it has lowered its Brent crude oil price forecasts, cutting the 2026 estimate from $100 per barrel to $96, and the 2027 estimate from $88 to $85, citing the recovery of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have rebounded substantially, reaching about 80% of pre-war levels. However, this normalization process remains incomplete. The bank noted that Iran’s assertion of control through fee impositions and coordination mechanisms has created frictions and may potentially delay a full recovery. A temporary deal reached last week aimed at ending the US-Israeli war against Iran has allowed traffic on the Strait of Hormuz shipping route to resume. (From Wall Street Cn APP) Recommended Reading:

June 24, 2026 The price of gold remains under short-term pressure following recent setbacks, but the broader bull market is far from over. For Jerry Prior, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager at the KraneShares Mount Lucas Managed Futures Index Strategy ETF (NYSE: KMLM), the current decline is primarily a healthy readjustment following overheated positioning. The true long-term drivers—above all, the global shift away from the U.S. dollar as the dominant reserve currency—remain absolutely intact. Healthy Correction: Why the Fed Shock Is Cleaning Up the Market In recent weeks, the precious metal has come under noticeable selling pressure due to several concurrent factors. The Federal Reserve’s more restrictive stance under its new chairman, Kevin Warsh, and the associated expectations of higher interest rates massively increased the opportunity cost of non-interest-bearing gold. At the same time, immediate safe-haven demand eased due to a de-escalation in the Middle East, prompting speculative investors and systematic trend-following funds to engage in massive selling. However, it is precisely this sharp reduction in positions that has already removed the bulk of the downside risk from the market. According to the expert, the risk of panic selling driven by retail inflows has been virtually eliminated following this rigorous market correction. Even if prices were to slip temporarily below the psychologically important threshold of $4,000 per ounce, the focus would instead shift to the enormous potential in the period that follows. As soon as global oil markets stabilize again and new revenues flow into commodity-exporting countries, a massive return of central banks seeking to further build up their gold reserves is to be expected. The Catalyst: De-dollarization Fuels the Next Bull Run Structural de-dollarization remains the strongest argument for strategic gold positions. The increasing use of the U.S. dollar as a geopolitical lever—the so-called “weaponization of the dollar”—is forcing more and more countries to seek alternative stores of value beyond U.S. Treasury bonds. This trend is considered irreversible. Additional revenues from exporting nations are likely to be channeled directly into the gold market in the future, rather than being used to finance the U.S. deficit. This development is accompanied by a macroeconomic environment characterized by structurally higher inflation. The end of cheap globalization benefits from China, the resource-intensive restructuring of global supply chains, and the costly relocation of production facilities virtually guarantee that inflation will not permanently return to the extremely low pre-pandemic level. The recent correction is therefore not a harbinger of a long bear market, but merely a temporary pullback within a secular uptrend. For long-term commodity investors, this market movement is actually good news. Viewed in this light, the current pullback to historically significant support levels flushes speculative market participants out of the system and offers a healthy entry opportunity. Since the fundamental megatrends—from global de-dollarization to massive central bank purchases—remain absolutely intact, as many experts emphasize, the foundation for the next upward cycle could be taking shape here, initially heading toward the $4,500 mark. Source： https://goldinvest.de/en/gold-prices-remain-under-pressure-but-this-is-exactly-where-a-new-opportunity-could-lie

Published: Jun 19, 2026 - 11:15 PM (Kitco News) - The Federal Reserve’s new tightening bias continues to take its toll on the gold market, with a growing number of analysts expecting prices to retest support near $4,000 an ounce. However, one bank has a simple suggestion for investors: “buy the dip.” Heading into the third quarter, market strategists at Société Générale updated their Multi-Asset Portfolio and recommended that investors remain long equities and commodities, as they expect central banks to remain behind the inflation curve. They said that, in this environment, investors need inflation protection. “We return to a full weighting in gold, taking advantage of the recent drawdown. Looking ahead, gold volatility may decline if retail participation—particularly through ETFs—eases off, while central banks are likely to remain active buyers, particularly as part of their ongoing de-dollarisation drive and as institutions diversify further away from equities and bonds,” the analysts said. For the third quarter, the French bank has a 10% allocation to gold, up from 7% in the second quarter. At the same time, SocGen is increasing its broader commodity exposure to 10% from 8%. “Electrification, AI, and sovereignty trends support the BCOM Index, with a bias toward industrial metals and energy,” the analysts said. The bank said its total 20% commodity exposure is the largest on record. Looking at the gold market, despite the current selling pressure, SocGen sees gold prices recovering in the fourth quarter of this year and climbing back to $5,000 an ounce by the second quarter of 2027, with the potential to reach new record highs in the third quarter of next year. The gold market has seen renewed selling pressure this week after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged in a range between 3.50% and 3.75%. However, in its updated economic projections, the central bank signaled support for a potential rate hike by the end of the year. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh confirmed the central bank’s hawkish bias, emphasizing its focus on price stability. However, the analysts at SocGen are not convinced that the Fed will actually pull the trigger on a rate hike. “Policymakers have effectively adjusted to a new equilibrium featuring higher growth alongside a higher inflation risk. This shift is reinforced by the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will move behind the curve, refraining from raising rates by year-end and even cutting next year. This implies inflation protection is more important than ever,” the analysts said. Despite potential downside risks to gold, SocGen said that the core pillars of its bull case—persistent currency erosion, worsening fiscal policy, and fracturing geopolitics—remain unchanged. Along with their increased commodity exposure, the analysts are also increasing their equity holdings to 55% of the portfolio, up from 50% in the second quarter. The bank is also increasing its exposure to inflation-protected securities, with a focus on U.S. and eurozone bonds. SocGen is also increasing its exposure to high-yield corporate debt. The bank said it will hold no cash in the third quarter. Source： https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-06-19/gold-prices-are-down-socgen-buying-dip

Published: Jun 19, 2026 - 5:54 AM (Kitco News) – Gold prices saw another volatile week, as early safe-haven demand from Middle East uncertainty gave way to heavy selling after the Federal Reserve held rates steady but signaled that a 2026 rate hike remained on the table. Spot gold kicked off the week trading at $4,210.52 per ounce on Sunday evening, and quickly pushed higher as traders continued to price in geopolitical risk around the U.S.-Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz. The rally continued through Monday’s and Tuesday’s trading sessions, with gold holding above $4,300 as markets looked ahead to the Fed decision and monitored signs of progress toward a regional de-escalation. Gold made its strongest move on Wednesday, when spot prices set their weekly high at $4,381.83 per ounce just minutes before the rate announcement, but the advance quickly reversed after the Fed left rates unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% while signaling that another rate hike before year-end was possible. The hawkish shift lifted the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields, undercutting gold despite lingering concerns about inflation and the Middle East. The yellow metal’s selloff accelerated Thursday after the U.S. and Iran signed a preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing oil prices and reducing some of gold’s safe-haven appeal. Spot gold broke back below $4,250 and ultimately set its weekly low at $4,201.14 per ounce on Thursday afternoon as U.S. markets closed ahead of Friday’s Juneteenth holiday. The latest Kitco News Weekly Gold Survey showed the bears back in control on Wall Street after the Fed’s hawkish lean, while Main Street sentiment bounced back into bullish territory despite gold’s late-week slide. “Unchanged (but volatile),” said Adrian Day, president of Adrian Day Asset Management. “The tone of the Federal Reserve meeting and new chairman Kevin Warsh’s comments came as a shock to the market, which will have to absorb the apparent shift in coming days and weeks. Warsh himself is unlikely to make attempts to clarify his comments–unlike under the last Fed Chairman–so we will have to wait for the next fed meeting to see where the Fed goes next. In the meantime, a peace in Iran, albeit fragile, as well as ongoing purchases from central banks and Tether, supports the price on the downside.” Darin Newsom, senior market analyst at Barchart.com, sees gold prices sliding further next week. “Why? That’s how the coin toss went this morning,” he said. “The bottom line is nothing about the market has changed. Central banks continue to buy while investors continue to sell. Inflation is still a concern, with the US FOMC hinting at a rate hike before the end of 2026. While this could support the US dollar, theoretically weakening dollar-backed commodities like gold, it doesn’t change the fact central banks would rather own gold long-term than the dollar.” “Up,” said Rich Checkan, president and COO of Asset Strategies International. “I still believe the pullback was completely overdone. A lot of where things go now rest on the peace deal to be signed in Switzerland and the details that get ironed out over the next 60 days. If we keep moving toward a more lasting peace, gold should benefit… despite what Chairman Warsh does at the Fed.” “I’m betting on peace, and I’m betting on gold.” Kevin Grady, president of Phoenix Futures and Options, told Kitco News that Kevin Warsh’s first meeting as head of the Fed went well, but it’s clear the FOMC is divided on the rate path. “What really came out was that it looks like there's a lot of members that are looking for rate hikes,” he said. “I think that's the story.” As far as the reaction from precious metals, Grady said while the price action may look dramatic, there’s nothing behind it right now. “I always go back to the volume,” Grady said. “You see gold is down $115; it was down $125... the [front-month futures] volume didn't even break 100,000 for the day. Just anemic, no one's trading. We see silver almost down $5, but the total silver volume from last night at 6 pm is 31,000 contracts.” “They're just not trading it,” he added. “Volumes are anemic, the open interest is extremely low. There's not a lot of interest in the market right now.” Grady said that gold found solid support at the $4,000 per ounce level, and we could be headed back there in short order. “You can see the psychological level of $4,000 is going to be good support for gold,” he said. “But if we just keep sitting around these levels and no one comes in to start buying it, I think that you're going to see a retest of those lows.” Grady said nothing about new Fed chair Warsh appears to be rubbing markets the wrong way, and the bearish moves he sees are a response to others on the FOMC. “I think the market's reacting to the other Fed governors who are looking for rate hikes,” he said. “That's what the gold market's reacting to, anyway. The equities don't seem to be reacting to any of that. But I think what Warsh is holding onto, and why he keeps stressing that he wants to focus on the data that's coming out, is because if you look at the latest inflation numbers, everything's coming from energy. As I'm talking, the energy market's ticking down, and now we're seeing $75 crude oil.” “If we can get gas prices down around $3, or even under $3, I think the whole picture changes, because the inflation data will change.” Looking ahead to the holiday weekend, Grady said he wouldn’t want to be on either side of any gold trades, but he expects gold prices to test the recent lows when traders return next week. “I'd be flat, and I plan on being flat,” he said. “I feel like we haven't seen the lows in gold. I think we're going to see a retest of those lows in gold, possibly even next week. I'm looking at the screen right now, it's a fifty-cent bid-ask spread, one lot up, no volume on that screen. People are not trading. If people saw this as a value area, they'd be in there buying. And I just don't think there's a lot of people in there buying.” “I think we have to find that level, so I'm looking for a retest of those lows.” This week, 10 analysts participated in the Kitco News Gold Survey, with Wall Street’s majority opinion turning bearish as gold gave up its gains following the reemergence of rate hikes on the horizon. Only one expert, or 10%, expected to see gold prices gain ground during the week ahead, while seven others – fully 70% of the total – predicted a price decline. The remaining two analysts, representing 20%, saw the yellow metal trending sideways next week. Meanwhile, 46 votes were cast in Kitco’s online poll, with Main Street investors returning to their bullish baseline despite gold’s post-Fed weakness. 25 retail traders, or 54%, looked for gold prices to rise next week, while another 16, or 35%, predicted the yellow metal would lose ground. The remaining five investors, representing 11% of the total, expect to see consolidation during the coming week. Next week’s economic data will feature the final reading of Q1 GDP and PCE inflation, along with an early look at manufacturing and services purchasing for June The data calendar starts on Tuesday morning with the release of S&P Global Flash PMI for June. Then on Wednesday, markets will be watching New Home Sales for May. Thursday will see the release of final US Q1 GDP and PCE, along with weekly jobless claims, and May durable goods orders. The week wraps up on Friday morning with the final print of University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment for June. Nicky Shiels, head of research and metals strategy at MKS PAMP, said the new Fed chair didn’t do gold any favors. “This meeting makes the Gold rally from ~$4K/oz look increasingly like a tactical dead-cat bounce, not a structural reversal,” she warned. “Until the task force outputs land (~6wks) and there's clarity on what they actually decide, the statement & presser have to be read as more hawkish than the market priced going in → rallies to be sold, not chased.” Alex Kuptsikevich, senior market analyst at FxPro, expects gold prices to decline next week. “It appears the rally triggered by the signing of the US-Iran memorandum has ended amid the Fed’s hawkish stance, sparking a wave of US dollar buying,” he said. “From a technical analysis perspective, the long-standing key support level, the 200-day moving average, has shifted to resistance. However, for this view to be confirmed, gold would need to fall below $4,000, breaking through the key round figure and the area of the previous rebound. That said, the bulls still harbour faint hopes that this level will once again attract buyers.” “Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a retest of $4,000 next week.” Michael Moor, founder of Moor Analytics, expects to see lower gold prices in the coming days. “LOWER unless we take out lower timeframe formation above mentioned below,” he said. “In a Higher time frame: I cautioned on 8/16/18 the break above $1,183.0 warned of renewed strength. We have seen $4,443.1. This is ON HOLD. The trade below 52554 projected this down $740 (+)—we attained $1,209.2. The trade below 52036 brought in $1,157.4 of pressure. The trade below 51606 brought in $1,114.4 of pressure. These are OFF HOLD.” “On a lower timeframe basis: We held exhaustion with a 49177 high and rolled over $871.5,” Moor said. “The break below 48185 projected this down $185 (+)—we attained $772.3. The trade below 47923 projected this down $205 (+)—we attained $746.1. The break below 47420 brought in $695.8 of pressure. On 5/15 we left a medium bearish reversal—we have come off $507.0 from 45532. These are OFF HOLD. We held medium timeframe exhaustion with a 40462 low and rallied $345.3—if we continue to rally into a bullish correction, the minimum target is 50547. Friday we left the minor bullish reversal—we have rallied $167.9 from the 42326 open. The break above 42236 (-20.6 per/hour) projects this up $65 min, $155 (+) max—we attained $158.9. The break above 42769 (-14 tics per/hour) has brought in $114.6 of strength. These are ON HOLD. We held exhaustion with a 44036 high and rolled over $166.2 into a bearish correction/trend against the move up from 40462, with possible exhaustion at 42249-069 and 41840-1677, but these are premature to hold. A maintained gap lower will leave a minor bearish reversal.” At the time of writing, spot gold last traded at $4,208.99 per ounce for a flat performance on the week and a loss of 1.14% on the day. Source： https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-06-18/wall-street-bears-back-control-after-feds-hawkish-outlook-main-street-leans

June 21, 2026 As of June 19, 2026, by Florian Grummes While the start of spring on March 23 initially sparked a broad recovery in the price of silver and even led to a surprising peak of $89.36, silver prices have come under significant pressure again since May 13. It wasn’t until a sell-off low of $61.50 that a strong—though so far short-lived—rally to $71.55 began last week. Since Wednesday evening, however, precious metal prices have once again come under heavy selling pressure. The trigger was the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, which caused a sharp pullback in precious metal prices. The open price gap at $68.35 was quickly closed, after which the silver price fell further to $63.28. As a result, roughly two-thirds of the previous recovery has already been lost. Since the beginning of the year, silver has also posted a decline of about 10%. Compared to the price of gold, however, silver has proven somewhat more stable and has so far managed to narrowly hold above its March low of around $61. Interest Rate Shock Following Leadership Change at the Fed The already challenging macroeconomic and geopolitical environment is now facing additional headwinds from monetary policy. At its June 17, 2026, meeting, the new Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh, left key interest rates unchanged for the fourth consecutive time, but at the same time signaled that, from the central bank’s perspective, inflation remains significantly too high. This has brought the possibility of a more restrictive monetary policy more sharply into the markets’ focus, as several Fed policymakers consider an interest rate hike possible this year. For precious metals, this is a rather negative signal, as a great many market participants remain heavily focused on U.S. monetary policy. Higher yields on U.S. Treasury bonds and a stronger dollar increase the opportunity cost of holding a non-interest-bearing asset like silver, thereby limiting its upside potential. Price Declines Following a Change in Leadership at the U.S. Federal Reserve © Barclays, Bloomberg Statistically speaking, a change in leadership at the U.S. Federal Reserve is often followed by significant price declines in the stock and financial markets during the first three months, as market participants must first reassess the monetary policy stance and reaction patterns. At the same time, decision-making processes and communication practices take time to establish themselves, which can lead to increased volatility and cautious positioning in the markets in the short term. Of particular importance this time is the shift in communication at the top of the central bank. Under the new Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh, the previous practice of providing advance notice regarding the future path of interest rates has largely been discontinued, which could further increase uncertainty in the markets. Warsh intends to place a strong emphasis on combating inflation, a move that many market participants immediately interpreted as a signal of tighter monetary policy. Restrictive Monetary Policy Weighs on the Markets Instead of the previously hoped-for interest rate cuts, there are now increasing signs of possible rate hikes, which makes stocks less attractive, as higher interest rates increase financing costs and cause future earnings to be discounted more heavily. This uncertainty led to a significant decline in the S&P 500, with other indices also posting losses. In addition, Warsh’s first press conference reinforced the impression of a shift in policy within the Fed, causing investors to become more cautious for the time being and potentially withdraw capital from riskier investments. This underscores how sensitively the markets react to changes in monetary policy and how those changes are communicated. Real Economy and Industry Are Weakening In addition to monetary policy, the real economy is also sending mixed signals. Weak data from the freight and trucking sectors suggest that industrial activity is losing momentum, which is particularly relevant for silver given its heavy industrial use. Unlike gold, silver is not only a monetary store of value but also an industrial metal. When the economy loses momentum, this can dampen physical demand and temporarily slow upward price movements. Gold and Central Banks as a Strategic Tailwind 2026 Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey © World Gold Council T he same, gold remains the most important benchmark for the price of silver. While gold was able to recover quickly to over $4,380 following the recent correction—only to then plummet to $4,121—strategic demand from central banks remains a strong tailwind for the entire precious metals sector. The Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey 2026 shows that, over the past four years, central banks worldwide have accumulated an average of 1,000 metric tons of gold per year—significantly more than in the previous decade. Furthermore, 89 percent of the central banks surveyed expect global gold reserves to rise over the next twelve months, while 74 percent anticipate a decline in the dollar’s share of global reserves. This trend does not apply identically to silver, but it provides strong indirect support. When real assets, diversification, and geopolitical hedging gain importance, silver typically benefits as a downstream, more volatile companion to the gold market. Silver in U.S. Dollars – Early Summer Volatility Silver in U.S. dollars, daily chart as of June 19, 2026. © Gold.de From a technical perspective, the silver price has been moving largely sideways since the first sell-off in early February. However, the series of lower highs underscores the clearly corrective nature of the movement. In the range between approximately $61 and $64, the bulls have so far consistently repelled the bears’ attacks and repeatedly initiated bullish counter-moves. Most recently, silver rebounded last week from $61.50 to Monday’s high of $71.55. This recovery, however, proved short-lived, and silver prices fell back to today’s low of $63.28. As a result, silver is now trading below both its slightly declining 50-day moving average ($79.01) and its still-rising 200-day moving average ($68.24). The 200-day moving average, in particular, should actually stabilize the current sell-off and allow for at least a broader consolidation around the $68 level in the coming weeks. While the weekly stochastic has now reached oversold territory, the momentum oscillator on the daily chart is already pointing downward again. Overall, this paints a picture that can, at best, be interpreted as an early-summer shakeout. In other words, before the summer rally begins, precious metal prices are slowly forming a solid foundation amid erratic and rather weak price action. Once that foundation is laid, a significant recovery should follow in response to the correction that has lasted about four and a half months. In the process, the silver price should then be able to reclaim its 50-day moving average. However, should the stock markets come under pressure and hopes for a de-escalation and continued peace negotiations in the Middle East prove to be illusory, the outlook could darken significantly this summer. In this case, price action on the silver market could also be interpreted as a descending triangle. A break below the $60 to $61 level would confirm this scenario and trigger price targets well below $50. Conclusion: Silver—A Summer Rally Despite an Interest Rate Shock? Silver is currently at a macroeconomic and technical tipping point. In the short term, headwinds dominate: tighter monetary policy, rising real interest rates, and an economic slowdown all argue against a rapid and dynamic upward move. At the same time, the Fed’s policy shift is causing increased uncertainty—a factor that typically draws liquidity away from more cyclical assets like silver. However, two stabilizing forces counter this: a correction that has already been underway for about four and a half months, and increasingly oversold market conditions. Combined with structurally strong demand for gold, this creates an environment that suggests a bottoming-out phase rather than an immediate trend reversal. The support zone around $60 to $61 is therefore crucial. If this support holds, the current period of weakness is likely to turn out to be a classic early-summer bottoming process, from which a recovery toward the 50-day moving average and beyond should become possible as early as midsummer. However, if silver falls sustainably below $60, this would confirm the formation of a descending triangle. In this scenario, the correction would transition into a new downtrend—with price targets well below $50. The coming weeks are therefore likely to be shaped less by trend strength than by decision-making—with an uncomfortably high degree of dependence on geopolitical maneuvers, monetary policy communication, and macroeconomic surprises. Author: Florian Grummes Precious Metals Expert and Technical Analyst www.goldnewsletter.de Source: GOLD.DE