Walsh shifts the landscape, but gold sellers remain in control!XAUTUSDT SPOTBITGET:XAUTUSDTduydaocoin✅ Gold prices experienced significant volatility this week. Initial buying on dips and safe-haven demand gave way to a sharp sell-off driven by stronger-than-expected US economic data, persistent inflation, a strengthening dollar, and heightened expectations of continued interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. However, a late-stage rally pushed gold prices back toward the $4,100 level. ✅ Since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict, investors have been bracing for Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. These expectations intensified following last week's inaugural Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting chaired by Kevin Walsh. On Thursday, economic data—specifically the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index showing annual inflation rising to 4.1% and initial jobless claims falling to 215,000—reinforced the view that the Fed has little room to loosen policy. ✅ DBS Bank assesses that major central banks will not view falling oil prices as a reason to cut interest rates; instead, they regard this as a crucial buffer allowing them to maintain benchmark rates at restrictive levels for longer without inflicting serious damage on the real economy. Once major global central banks demonstrate a trend of policy convergence rather than divergence, non-US dollar major currencies are likely to halt their decline following the Fed meeting and—after the dollar's recent rally—begin to consolidate and establish a base. ✅ After failing to decisively break through the $4,100 level, the spot gold price ended the week about $10 below that mark but maintained strong upward momentum leading up to the close. ✅ Adrian Day, President of Adrian Day Asset Management, stated that his base-case scenario remains unchanged, though "uncertainty" might be a more fitting term. He noted that the market is being pulled in multiple directions: on one hand, there is the risk of escalating conflict involving Iran; on the other, if the artificial intelligence and technology sectors continue to decline, the demand for liquidity could rise—particularly given that US stock margin debt is at record highs. Bearish Scenario: If the price of gold fails to hold the $4,000/ounce level, a deeper drop to the $3,700–$3,800/ounce range is entirely possible in the short term. Note: Stay highly vigilant in the coming week—a "tsunami of data" is approaching. With US markets closed on Friday, July 3rd, for Independence Day, the actual trading week will be shortened; this coincides with institutional portfolio rebalancing at the end of the month, quarter, and half-year. Market liquidity could face sudden disruptions, triggering systemic volatility and profoundly impacting short-term risk appetite and global trading behavior. What are your predictions for gold prices next week? Feel free to share your insights. With Bitget’s UEX platform, traders can simultaneously buy XAUUSD CFDs and short-sell technology stocks via US stock futures—all from a single account.