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Two events last week pulled gold prices in different directions, but U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of steel and aluminum tariffs helped end gold's recent slump…
First was Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's testimony to Congress. Although the newly installed Powell said the economy was strengthening, he also alluded to the possibility of more aggressive rate hikes.
That triggered a stock sell-off and a dollar rally.
Then, on Thursday (March 1), stocks fell further as reports emerged that Trump said he'd impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The U.S. dollar also tanked as observers upped the risk of developing trade wars.
Although gold sold off on Powell's comments, it came roaring back on tariff news and the weaker dollar. As stock selling intensified, investors shifted some of their proceeds into gold.
Today, I'll show you just how the price of gold moved last week, plus how high gold prices can go in the wake of the tariff announcement…
Why Steel Tariffs Are Boosting Gold
Last week was eventful for the price of gold, and I'll show you exactly what mattered for gold prices.
Faced with rising stock indexes on Monday (Feb. 26), gold prices were hurt as the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) found renewed vigor. From an early morning low near 89.5, the DXY tested 90 by mid-morning, then managed to consolidate high around 89.75 the rest of the trading day. As a result, gold, which opened at $1,337 at 8:00 a.m., sold down to a noon low of $1,331 before recuperating slightly to a $1,333 close.
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On Tuesday (Feb. 27), Powell's testimony sunk stocks as traders reacted negatively to the possibility of four Fed rate hikes this year. The Fed had previously predicted just three rate hikes this year.
That sent the dollar soaring.
The DXY jumped to test 90.5 by the end of the morning. It then backed off through the afternoon to 90.40. Gold opened at $1,332, then quickly sold off on dollar strength to a 1:00 p.m. low at $1,315 before recuperating slightly to close at $1,318.
Wednesday (Feb. 28) had stocks holding their own until mid-afternoon, when weakness returned in earnest. The DXY strengthened from 90.5 to 90.65, weighing on gold. The precious metal opened at $1,320 but weakened on balance to close at $1,318 in NY trading.
Then on Thursday (March 1), Trump's tariff news punished stocks in late afternoon. At its worst point, the Dow was down over 500 points, or more than 2%. Oil and bond yields were also down. The DXY gave back 65 basis points from its intraday peak, down to 90.25 by 5:00 p.m.
Check out how swiftly the DXY fell after the tariffs were announced…
And you can also see how the tariffs sent the stock market reeling too…
While the S&P 500 was down about 1.35% on the day, gold had gained about 0.5%, and the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDXJ) was up some 2.7%. Gold itself had opened at $1,306 and closed at $1,317.
You can see just how well gold and junior stocks performed against the S&P 500 right here…
Friday (March 2) would see further weakness in the dollar, with the DXY hovering just around the 90 level most of the day. That extended softness supported gold further, and the yellow metal opened higher, at $1,322, which maintained into the close.
Here's my latest 2018 gold price target now that the new steel tariffs are driving down the dollar and boosting gold…
How High Gold Prices Can Go in 2018
About the Author
Peter Krauth is the Resource Specialist for Money Map Press and has contributed some of the most popular and highly regarded investing articles on Money Morning. Peter is headquartered in resource-rich Canada, but he travels around the world to dig up the very best profit opportunity, whether it's in gold, silver, oil, coal, or even potash.
I have been reading your posts and expert analysis of the gold and silver market and have yet to see you get anything right. None of your predictions/recommendations have occurred. You are very good at describing what has happened and why but your predictions have been crap. I only read you now to see how wrong you continue to be. Or is it your plan to predict the same thing again and again in the HOPES that you will EVENTUALLY be correct. And then you'll tell everyone that you knew this all along and are the gold/silver guru.
Dear Peter Madaisky -Mr. Peter Krauth does not write crap. His predictions are tecnically based on statistics etc. What he does not take into consideration are the dirty manipulations in Wall Street. If you want to attack somebody attack the criminals of Wall street companies who manipulate the markets by throwing in via their computer freaks big selling orders which the markets cannot absorb with nasty consequences for honest investors, in our case gold and silver. Apparently nobody dares to take actions against those dirty practices of dishonest people with their lobbyists.
Technically you are right for 100% but you forget that the markets are in the
hands of Wall Street´s criminal manipulators