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Sevens Report: Gold Holds Bullish Bias After Less-Hawkish Fed

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Tom Essaye says the Fed decision supports year-end upside, but key levels matter.

Gold: After Post-Fed Boost, Keep These Key Levels in Mind

While not a bullish gamechanger, the net impact of Wednesday’s Federal Reserve decision will be to support a year-end rally and the reason is clear: The Fed wasn’t as-hawkish-as-feared. On the charts, gold remains rangebound between support at $4,200 per ounce and resistance at $4,400, observes Tom Essaye, president of the Sevens Report.

Commodities were mixed for most of the day Wednesday as traders awaited the conclusion of the Fed meeting. However, the less-hawkish cut the FOMC delivered sparked risk-on money flows in afternoon trade that saw economically sensitive industrial metals and energy futures outperform. Gold turned positive but lagged on the session.

Still, it lurched higher in after-hours trade to up 0.48% in part because the Fed announced a 30-day bond buying spree totaling $40 billion. Risks are still skewed to the upside in the direction of the dominant, primary uptrend that’s been in place all year.

Technical View: Gold market volatility has picked up in Q4 with risks of intermittent, deeper pullbacks elevated. However, the long-term trend remains bullish.

  • Primary Trend: Bullish (since the week of Nov. 27, 2023)
  • Key Resistance Levels: $4,290…$4,344…and $4,398
  • Key Support Levels: $4,134…$4,045…and $3,941.

Also, click here to view the full article on Moneyshow.com published on December 12th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

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FOMC Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview

Equity futures are modestly higher thanks to a steadying bond market and better than feared economic data as trader-focus shifts to the December Fed meeting which begins today (decision/press-conference tomorrow).

Looking ahead to today’s session, there was one economic report early this morning, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, which unexpectedly rose from 98.2 to 99.0 vs. (E) 98.0, and that is helping ease lingering worries about the current health of the economy.

Beyond the NFIB, we will receive one more report today: JOLTS (E: 7.2 million) shortly after the open and with uncertainty surrounding the future path of Fed policy, a surprise on the headline or details could move markets ahead of tomorrow’s Fed announcement.

There are no Fed speakers as the December meeting gets underway today, however the Treasury will hold a 6-Week Bill auction at 11:30 a.m. ET and a 10-Yr Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET and any reaction in bonds is likely to move equity markets.

Finally, there are a handful of earnings releases today including: AZO ($32.24), CPB ($0.73), ASO ($1.00), and CASY ($4.92) and investors will be looking for continued strength, particularly from any tech-related companies.\

 

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Fed Day

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Abbreviated FOMC Preview
  • Housing Data Takeaways

Futures are trading at all-time highs ahead of the Fed decision and multiple Mag-7 earnings releases due out after the close as President Trump made optimistic remarks about his three-hour meeting with President Xi tomorrow.

Economically, Australian CPI jumped to 3.2% vs. (E) 3.0%, up 1.1% from Q2’s reading of 2.1%.

Today, there are a few “second-tiered” economic reports due to be released including International Trade in Goods (E: $-90.0B), Wholesale inventories (E: -0.2%), and Pending Home Sales (E: 1.0%) but their market impact should be limited given the looming Fed decision.

It’s Fed Day with the FOMC Meeting Announcement due to hit the wires at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by Fed Chair Powell’s Press Conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Aside from the Fed decision, which could have a material impact on markets today despite the looming Trump-Xi meeting tomorrow, we are getting into peak earnings season with quarterly results due from major U.S. companies including VZ ($1.19), BA (-$2.46), CVS ($1.36), CAT ($4.52), META ($6.61), MSFT ($3.65), GOOGL ($2.26), and CMG ($0.28).

 

FOMC Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview
  • Chart – The Threshold for “Fed Disappointment” is 75 bp by Yearend
  • Empire State Manufacturing Survey Takeaways

Futures are modestly higher this morning thanks to bullish momentum as traders look ahead to the Fed decision.

Economically, Eurozone Industrial Production rose 0.3% vs. (E) 0.5% while the German ZEW Survey’s Current Conditions headline fell to -76.4 vs. (E) -74, however, neither report is materially impacting markets this morning with the Fed decision looming large.

Today, there are multiple important economic reports due to be released including Retail Sales (E: 0.3%), Import & Export Prices (E: -0.2%, -0.2%), Industrial Production (E: 0.0%), Business Inventories (E: 0.2%), and the Housing Market Index (E: 33).

Additionally, there is one noteworthy earnings release to watch: FERG ($3.01), but with the September FOMC meeting getting underway it is likely that a sense of “Fed paralysis” begins to grip markets as traders position into the decision.

 

September Bitcoin Update and Outlook

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • September Bitcoin Update and Outlook
  • What Yesterday’s CPI Means for Markets

Futures are slightly lower on mixed data and earnings overnight.

ADBE was the latest tech company to post earnings and the results were solid (beat on EPS and revenue and a guidance increase) but concerns about AI sapping demand for software kept gains modest (ADBE is up 3% pre-market).

Economically, data was mixed.  UK Industrial Production badly missed estimates (-1.3% vs. (E) 0.5%) while German CPI and UK Monthly GDP both met expectations.

Today the only notable economic report is University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (E: 58.0) and focus will be on the inflation expectations.  As long as they don’t move sharply higher, it’ll cap a generally positive week for markets on the inflation front (which has been the main reason stocks are higher this week).

 

Is the NOB Spread Signaling a “Run Hot” Economy?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Is the NOB Spread Signaling a “Run Hot” Economy?

Futures are in the red but off their overnight lows as traders digest President Trump’s latest efforts to “fire” Fed Governor Cook, rekindling “Fed independence” concerns.

Economically, French Consumer Confidence fell 2 points to 87 vs. (E) 89 in August while Prime Minister Bayrou has called for a confidence vote on September 8, surrounding budget concerns which introduces a renewed sense of market uncertainty in Europe.

Looking into today’s session there are multiple noteworthy economic reports to watch today including Durable Goods (E: -4.0%), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 2.6%), FHFA House Price Index (E: 0.0%), and likely most importantly, Consumer Confidence (E: 96.4).

There is one Fed official scheduled to speak: Barkin (8:30 a.m. ET) as well as a 2-Yr Treasury Note auction at 1:00 p.m. ET, both of which could impact Treasuries and impact equity market trading today.

Finally, a handful of late season earnings releases are due out including: BMO ($2.12), BNS ($1.28), and OKTA ($0.33), but the main earnings catalyst this week will be NVDA’s release later in the week.

 

Were Powell’s Comments Really That Bullish?

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Were Powell’s Comments Really That Bullish?
  • Weekly Market Preview: Does the Tech Pullback Continue? (NVDA Earnings on Wednesday)
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet: More Focus on Inflation (Core PCE Price Index on Friday)

Futures are modestly lower mostly on digestion of Friday’s big rally and following a quiet weekend of news.

Economically, the only notable report was German IFO Business Expectations, which jumped to a one year high (91.6 vs. (E) 90.8).

There was no notable geopolitical news over the weekend.

Today there are two economic reports, Chicago Fed (Prior: -0.10), New Home Sales (E: 628K) and two Fed speakers, Logan (3:15 p.m. ET) and Williams (7:15 p.m. ET), but none of that should move markets as the economic reports shouldn’t change the outlook for growth while Powell largely acknowledged a likely rate cut in September (making other Fed commentary less important).

On earnings, there are two reports to watch today: PDD ($1.69) and HEI ($1.12).

 

Fed Takeaways and Jobs Report Preview

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Fed Decision Means for Markets
  • FOMC Takeaways
  • Jobs Report Preview
  • Weekly EIA Data Takeaways and Oil Market Update

Futures are solidly higher as traders digest the largely benign July Fed decision amidst solid earnings and guidance from tech giants MSFT and META, which are trading higher by 8%+ and 12%+ in pre-market trade, respectively.

Today, focus will be on more key economic data early with Jobless Claims (E: 225K), and the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.3% m/m, 2.7% y/y) being the key numbers to watch while the monthly Chicago PMI (E: 42.0) will also be released.

In the wake of the Fed decision yesterday, the Treasury’s 4-Week & 8-Week T-Bill auctions at 11:30 a.m. ET today could shed some light on market expectations for Fed policy rates between now and the end of the third quarter (the more dovish, the better).

Finally, earnings season continues in full force with multiple major global corporations reporting Q2 results today including CVS ($1.47), ABBV ($2.89), MA ($4.05), AAPL ($1.42), AMZN ($1.33), MSTR ($-0.12), COIN ($1.18), KKR ($1.03), and SO ($0.93). Strong mega-cap tech earnings have become largely expected rather than appreciated by this market so any disappointment in corporate news could spark a wave of profit taking into the end of the month.

 

FOMC Preview: Wildcard to Watch

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • FOMC Preview: What’s Expected, Hawkish Scenario, Dovish Scenario
  • Fed Meeting Wildcard to Watch: Dovish Dissents

U.S. equity futures are tracking European shares higher this morning amid continued optimism surrounding the U.S.-EU trade deal and resilient earnings ahead of the Fed decision.

There were no noteworthy economic reports overnight which will leave focus on earnings and U.S. economic data today as the July Fed meeting gets underway in Washington.

Today’s economic calendar is a fairly busy one with several potential market-moving reports due to be released including: Consumer Confidence (E: 95.8), JOLTS (E: 7.4 million), Case-Shiller Home Price Index (E: 2.9%), and International Trade in Goods (E: $-99.0B).

Looking at earnings, the Q2 reporting season continues with notable companies releasing results today including: UNH ($4.84), SOFI ($0.06), BA ($-1.54), PG ($1.43), V ($2.86), MRK ($2.01), SBUX ($0.64).

Bottom line, investors will continue to look for resilient, yet not “too hot” economic data trends and upbeat earnings and guidance in order for stocks to hold yesterday’s record highs, however a familiar sense of “Fed Paralysis” is likely to grip markets ahead of tomorrow’s critical Fed decision.

 

What Trump vs. Powell Means for Markets (Three Scenarios)

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What’s in Today’s Report:

  • What the Trump vs. Powell Tensions Mean for Markets
  • EIA Data Takeaways and Oil Market Update

Futures are slightly higher after a mostly quiet newswires night of news as tech shares catch a bid on the back of solid earnings and optimistic guidance from global chip-making giant TSMC overnight.

Economically, Eurozone HICP (their CPI equivalent) met estimates at 2.0% y/y on the headline while the core figure edged up to 2.3%, also as expected.

Today, focus will be on economic data early with Jobless Claims (E: 233K), Retail Sales (E: 0.1%), the Philly Fed Surve (E: -0.4), Import and Export Prices (E: 0.2% m/m, -0.1% m/m), and the latest Housing Market Index (E: 33) all due to be released.

There are also multiple Fed officials scheduled to speak today including: Kugler (10:00 a.m. ET), Daly (12:45 p.m. ET), and Cook (1:30 p.m. ET).

Finally, earnings season continues with TSM ($2.37), GE ($1.43), PEP ($2.03), USB ($1.07), ABT ($1.25), NFLX ($7.07), and IBKR ($0.45) all scheduled to release quarterly reports today.

Bottom line, traders will want to see economic data that pushes back on the ideas of stagflation or a hard-landing (two economic worries of late) and hear a more dovish tone from Fed speakers amid more positive earnings news in order for stocks to extend the recent rally to new records.