XAUUSD - Gold after the Fed meeting!

Gold is above the EMA200 and EMA50 on the 1-hour timeframe and is in its ascending channel. If gold rises to the previous ATH, we can look for buying opportunities after a price correction. A correction of gold towards the demand zone will provide us with the next buying opportunity with a good risk-reward ratio.

During its meeting last night, the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates steady within the 4.25% to 4.5% range, signaling that it has no immediate plans to lower them. Jerome Powell, the Fed Chair, emphasized that the U.S. economy continues to experience strong growth, with a resilient labor market. According to him, current interest rates are no longer as restrictive to economic activity as they once were. He stated that the central bank prefers to see more concrete evidence of sustained inflation reduction before making any adjustments, while also assessing the economic impact of Donald Trump’s policies in areas such as tariffs, immigration, and taxation.

In its statement, the Federal Reserve acknowledged that inflation remains “somewhat high,” but it omitted previous references to progress toward the 2% target. Powell clarified that this change does not signal a shift in policy but rather reflects the need for greater confidence in the persistence of inflation’s downward trend.

The Fed Chair also stressed that the central bank cannot accurately predict the impact of Trump’s new policies before they are implemented. He noted that potential tariffs and immigration changes could have conflicting effects: they might contribute to inflation by raising costs, while also acting as a deflationary force by improving productivity.

Powell made it clear that a rate cut in March 2025 is “unlikely,” and future decisions will depend entirely on economic data, particularly inflation and employment indicators. If Trump’s trade policies or labor shortages caused by the expulsion of migrants unexpectedly drive inflation higher, the Federal Reserve may not only delay rate cuts but could even consider raising rates instead.

In response to these remarks, Trump criticized Powell, accusing him of failing to control inflation. The U.S. President stated on Truth Social that his administration would curb inflation by ramping up domestic energy production, reducing regulations, balancing international trade, and revitalizing American manufacturing. Meanwhile, Powell told reporters that he has not been in contact with Trump recently and would not respond to criticisms from the White House. Trump also accused the Federal Reserve of focusing on issues like climate change, diversity, equity, and gender ideology instead of prioritizing economic matters.

David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, believes that the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates within a narrow range throughout 2025 unless there is a significant shift in inflation. He highlighted that rising costs in the services and food sectors remain key economic challenges, which will likely limit any major policy changes in the near term.