Gold Latest Market Trend Analysis: On April 20, the international gold price opened significantly lower, at one point dropping over 60 dollars, a decline of 1.5%, hitting a low near $4737. This sharp reversal completely erased the strong performance from the previous Friday, primarily driven by a sudden escalation in Middle East tensions over the weekend: the Strait of Hormuz was closed again, US forces fired upon and seized an Iranian merchant ship in the Gulf of Oman, while Iran explicitly refused to participate in the second round of US-Iran talks and vowed retaliation. This series of events not only heightened global energy risks but also intensified market concerns about inflation, significantly dampening expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. This led to a rapid rise in the US dollar index to a one-week high, putting noticeable downward pressure on gold.
Gold Technical Analysis: On the daily chart, the upward trend channel remains intact, with the 5-day, 10-day, and 20-day moving averages forming a bullish alignment, indicating the medium-term trend is still biased upwards. However, a strong resistance zone exists between $4870 and $4890; multiple failed attempts to break higher suggest weakening bullish momentum. A break above this zone could target $4910-$5000, while a pullback would find strong support near the 20-day moving average around $4650. On the 4-hour chart, the Bollinger Bands are contracting, with the price oscillating near the middle band. The MACD shows shortening red bars, and the RSI is neutral to bearish, indicating a clear short-term consolidation pattern. Watch for a breakout above the upper Bollinger Band at $4865-$4870 to resume the uptrend, or a break below the lower band at $4765-$4750 to initiate a correction. The hourly chart shows moving averages crossing downwards, with consecutive bearish candles engulfing previous gains, suggesting a downward bias in the price structure and potential for further short-term declines. Immediate resistance is at $4850, with support at $4730. A break below $4730 could test the stronger support at $4650. Overall, for today's short-term trading, the strategy for gold is primarily to sell on rallies, supplemented by buying on dips. Focus on resistance between $4850-$4880 and support between $4730-$4680.
Crude Oil Latest Market Trend Analysis: In early Asian trading on Monday (Beijing time, April 20), oil prices rebounded by over 7%, with US crude trading near $881 per barrel. The Iranian parliament speaker warned that emotional trading in crude oil is akin to hedging US debt risk—both are "castles in the air." International oil prices fell sharply by about 9% last Friday, influenced by news that Iran had opened the Strait of Hormuz during a ceasefire and progress in US-Iran talks. Brent crude futures fell 9.07% to $90.38 per barrel, while US crude futures plummeted 11.45% to $83.85, marking the largest single-day drop since April 8 for both.
Crude Oil Technical Analysis: From a daily chart perspective, the oil price has moved below the moving average system, indicating the medium-term objective trend is in a transition phase. The price action shows alternating primary trends, with the current subjective trend direction being downward. Momentum-wise, the MACD indicator is opening downwards after crossing the zero line, suggesting bearish momentum is gradually strengthening. The medium-term trend is expected to follow a pattern of high-level retreat and adjustment. On the short-term (1-hour) chart, the oil price has reversed upwards, recovering the previous day's losses. The price has crossed above the moving average system, indicating the short-term objective trend is also transitioning. The MACD indicator has formed a golden cross and is opening upwards below the zero line, suggesting bullish momentum is gradually strengthening. The early session price action shows an alternating primary trend, with the main trend currently upward. Intraday, crude oil prices are expected to continue rising towards a test of $95.40. Overall, for today's trading, the strategy for crude oil is primarily to buy on dips, supplemented by selling on rallies. Focus on resistance between $91.5-$94.0 and support between $83.5-$80.0.