Gold futures surpass key resistance that spot has yet to overcome

Kitco MediaKitco Media
By Gary Wagner and Joseph Wagner
Published:
Updated:
Kitco Commentaries
Opinions, Ideas and Markets Talk

Featuring views and opinions written by market professionals, not staff journalists.

Gold futures surpass key resistance that spot has yet to overcome teaser image

Gold futures reclaimed the psychologically significant $5,000 threshold on Wednesday, with the April contract advancing $98.40, or 2.01%, to $5,005 at the time of writing — a meaningful technical victory that spot prices have thus far been unable to replicate.

The move also saw futures recapture their 20-day simple moving average, a short-term trend indicator that had briefly given way just one session prior. The breach proved fleeting, underscoring the resilience of the broader uptrend. Indeed, since the start of 2026, gold futures have posted only two daily closes beneath this near-term average — a testament to the consistency of buying pressure that has characterized the metal's ascent.

article image

The longer-term technical picture remains equally constructive. The 50-, 100-, and 200-day simple moving averages have all held below spot pricing since August 2025, reflecting what can only be described as exceptionally strong bullish momentum sustained over the better part of six months. Crucially, these averages remain in full bullish alignment — with shorter-term averages stacked above longer-term ones — a configuration that has been intact since January 2025 and is widely regarded by technical analysts as one of the more reliable signals of a durable, well-supported uptrend.

Spot gold, however, tells a slightly more cautious story. Having briefly traded above $5,000, prices subsequently retreated to $4,983.68, a gain of $106, or 2.17%, on the session. Unlike its futures counterpart, spot gold has yet to convincingly reclaim its 20-day moving average, which continues to act as a ceiling rather than a floor.

article image

The technical resistance confronting spot gold is not trivial. At $5,016, prices encounter the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement derived from a long-term data set spanning the move from $3,120 to the all-time high just north of $5,600. This particular retracement framework has demonstrated a notable degree of precision in identifying key inflection points. The 38.2% retracement level accurately foreshadowed the closing price on February 2nd — the second consecutive session of sharp selling that marked the initial rollover from record highs — while the 50% retracement clearly delineated the October 2025 peak, a level that held the distinction of all-time high for more than two months before ultimately being surpassed.

article image

Compounding the resistance picture, the midline of the Bollinger Band — a dynamic measure of the mean price range — is converging near the day's highs, presenting an additional layer of technical overhead that bulls must contend with. Should spot gold muster the momentum to decisively clear both the Fibonacci and Bollinger resistance clustered around current levels, the door would open for a measured advance toward $5,100, with $5,180 representing the next meaningful technical objective beyond that.

For those that would like more information about our services click here.

Wishing you as always good trading,

Kitco Media

Gary Wagner

Gary S. Wagner has been a technical market analyst for 25 years. A frequent contributor to STOCKS & COMMODITIES Magazine, he has also written for Futures Magazine as well as Barrons. He is the executive producer of "The Gold Forecast," a daily video newsletter.

He has been a speaker for financial seminars including Futures West and the Dow Jones Financial Symposium which travels throughout the world.. Coauthor of "Trading Applications Of Japanese Candlestick Charting" a John Wiley publication.

Mdi Earth Logo
Kitco Media

Joseph Wagner

Joseph Wagner is a technical analyst with a background in Fibonacci and Japanese Candlesticks. He has primarily focused on Bitcoin for the past 8 years, and authored a publication on trading BTC called “the Bitcoin Minute” since 2020. A member of The Gold Forecast team since 2015 and has been at the head of their silver division since the start of 2025.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.