Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD Stays Above $4,000 as US Midterm Elections Weigh on the US Dollar
Gold prices maintained strong intraday gains near their weekly highs on Wednesday, trading comfortably above the psychological $4,000 mark during the early European session. The rally was supported by broad-based US Dollar weakness following the latest developments in the US midterm elections.
Democratic victories in both the House of Representatives and the Senate have increased the likelihood of political gridlock in Washington. Growing political uncertainty has also encouraged investors to seek safe-haven assets, putting downward pressure on US Treasury yields. This combination has weighed on the Greenback while providing additional support for the precious metal.
Gold Technical Analysis: XAU/USD Faces Key Resistance Levels
Despite the recent recovery, XAU/USD maintains a bearish technical bias as it continues to trade below the 100-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart and remains beneath the key Fibonacci retracement levels of the decline from its mid-October peak.
The 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $3,947 represents the nearest resistance, followed by the $3,970 zone. Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 48.94, close to neutral territory, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains positive at 6.65. These indicators suggest that bearish momentum is stabilizing, although the recovery is not yet strong enough to challenge the prevailing downward trend.
A sustained break above the $3,970 resistance could open the door toward the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $3,995. Further gains could then push Gold toward the 50.0% retracement level at $4,033.
Beyond this level, the 100-period SMA at $4,057, followed by the 61.8% and 78.6% Fibonacci retracement levels at $4,072 and $4,127, respectively, will represent the next major obstacles before the previous cycle peak near $4,197.
On the downside, the key structural support remains around the Fibonacci reference level of $3,869. Buyers could attempt to defend this area if renewed bearish pressure emerges.
Fed Rate Hike Expectations Continue to Limit Gold's Upside
Despite support from a weaker US Dollar, expectations of a more hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) have prevented Gold from extending its intraday recovery.
According to the CME Group FedWatch Tool, traders are currently pricing in nearly an 80% probability that the US central bank will raise interest rates again at its next policy meeting in December.
These expectations strengthened following Tuesday's release of the US Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The report showed that labor demand remained relatively resilient in September, with job openings increasing to 7.523 million from an upwardly revised 7.190 million in August.
The latest labor market data, combined with resilient economic growth and persistent inflationary pressures, has reinforced expectations of another Fed rate hike.
This outlook continues to weigh on non-yielding assets such as Gold, keeping prices vulnerable below the $3,970 resistance zone despite support from US Dollar weakness.
US-Iran Tensions Keep Geopolitical Risks in Focus
Meanwhile, geopolitical risk premiums remain elevated despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the eight-month-long US-Iran conflict.
In the latest developments, US President Donald Trump told the Financial Times on Tuesday that Washington had no immediate plans to launch an attack on Iran, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinting at a possible strike later this weekend.
At the same time, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the Strait of Hormuz would only reopen if sanctions were lifted and the US naval blockade ended.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also claimed that four oil tankers had been destroyed after striking mines south of the Strait of Hormuz.
These developments have heightened concerns over potential oil supply disruptions and renewed inflationary pressures stemming from volatile energy prices. Such risks could strengthen the case for further monetary policy tightening by the Federal Reserve, creating another challenge for Gold.
US Economic Data and NFP Report in Focus
Traders are now turning their attention to Wednesday's US economic calendar, which includes the ADP private-sector employment report and the ISM Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI). Incoming geopolitical developments could also provide fresh trading opportunities for Gold.
However, market attention remains firmly focused on Friday's closely watched US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report, which could influence US Dollar demand and determine the precious metal's near-term direction.
Overall, the combination of political uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, US Dollar weakness, and rising Fed rate hike expectations creates a mixed fundamental backdrop for Gold.
Although XAU/USD has staged a recovery from last Friday's lowest level since September 2025, traders may prefer to wait for stronger follow-through buying before confirming that the precious metal has established a sustainable bottom and is ready to extend its recovery.



