Year-End Profit-Taking Weighs on Precious Metals as USD and Risk Assets Diverge

Market Highlight 02/01/2026

On Wednesday, global financial markets experienced heightened volatility as 2025 drew to a close. The U.S. Dollar Index briefly climbed toward 98.50, marking a one-week high, before paring gains to close slightly higher at 98.28. Despite the rebound, the dollar recorded its largest annual decline in eight years. Initial jobless claims unexpectedly fell to 199,000, lifting U.S. Treasury yields. The 10-year yield rose to 4.172%, while the 2-year yield climbed to 3.483%, highlighting persistent market divergence over the Federal Reserve’s policy path.

Precious metals faced concentrated profit-taking following historic annual gains. Combined with the CME’s second margin hike for precious metals futures within a week, gold and silver retreated sharply. Spot gold briefly fell to a low near USD 4,274 before settling below USD 4,310, while silver recorded an intraday drop of over 7%. Crude oil remained under pressure amid oversupply concerns, with both WTI and Brent closing lower. Equity markets also softened into year-end trading. U.S. indices declined but still notched a third consecutive year of double-digit gains, while Hong Kong and A-share markets ended the year with notable annual performance despite short-term pressure.

 

Key Outlook 02/01/2026

Markets will focus on final manufacturing PMI readings from Europe and the U.S., including the S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI. Continued contraction could reinforce concerns over slowing global momentum, weighing on risk assets while offering temporary support to the dollar. Conversely, signs of stabilization may ease pessimism and allow short-term recovery in equities and non-dollar assets. Following the sharp correction in precious metals, near-term volatility is expected to remain driven by macro data and policy expectations.

 

Key Data and Events Today:

New Zealand – New Year’s Day; China – New Year’s Day; Japan – Market Holiday

  • 16:55 EU GERMANY Manufacturing PMI Final DEC **
  • 17:00 EU Manufacturing PMI Final DEC **
  • 17:30 GB Manufacturing PMI Final DEC **
  • 22:45 US ISM Manufacturing PMI Final DEC ***

 

Key Data and Events Coming Week

  • Monday: JP Services PMI Final, CN Caixin Services PMI, EU Sentix Investor Confidence, US ISM Manufacturing PMI
  • Tuesday: Germany Services PMI Final, EU Services PMI Final, GB Services PMI Final, Germany CPI MoM (Prel), US ISM Services PMI
  • Wednesday: API Crude Oil Stock Change, EU CPI YoY Flash, US ADP Employment Change, US JOLTs Job Openings, EIA Crude Oil Stocks Change
  • Thursday: CN Balance of Trade, EU Unemployment Rate, EU PPI MoM, US Initial Jobless Claims
  • Friday: CN CPI YoY, CA Unemployment Rate, US Non-Farm Payrolls, US Michigan Consumer Sentiment (Prel)

 

Markets Analysis 02/01/2026

 

EURUSD

  • Resistance: 1.1786 / 1.1808
  • Support: 1.1689 / 1.1666

EURUSD remains range-bound amid thin year-start liquidity, with markets awaiting final German and Eurozone manufacturing PMI data, both expected to weaken. Technically, price has pulled back from the 1.1786–1.1808 resistance zone and is testing the channel midline, with 1.1666–1.1689 acting as key support. The pair remains largely driven by USD dynamics.

 

GBPUSD

  • Resistance: 1.3534 / 1.3575
  • Support: 1.3399 / 1.3357

GBPUSD is consolidating alongside USD movements. The UK December Manufacturing PMI is expected to hold at 51.2, offering limited directional guidance. Technically, the pair remains within an ascending channel, consolidating at elevated levels rather than signaling a trend reversal.

 

USDJPY

  • Resistance: 157.77 / 158.17
  • Support: 156.06 / 155.65

USDJPY is consolidating at highs amid reduced liquidity due to Japan’s market holiday. Weak U.S. PMI data could pressure the dollar further. Technically, rebounds remain capped near 157.77–158.17, while 155.65–156.06 remains key support.

 

US Crude Oil Futures (FEB)

  • Resistance: 58.42 / 58.87
  • Support: 56.92 / 56.46

Oil prices remain resilient amid thin holiday trading, supported by rising geopolitical risk premiums linked to the Russia–Ukraine conflict and energy infrastructure attacks. Technically, WTI is consolidating within an ascending channel, with resistance near 58.42–58.87 and key support at 56.46–56.92.

 

Spot Gold

  • Resistance: 4,404 / 4,461
  • Support: 4,221 / 4,163

 

Spot Silver

  • Resistance: 75.08 / 78.44
  • Support: 66.93 / 64.25

Gold remains elevated amid multiple risk factors, including renewed U.S. government shutdown risks, geopolitical tensions, and expectations for rate cuts in 2026. Following a sharp pullback, prices are consolidating around the USD 4,300 level. Volatility is expanding, and the defense of the 4,300 zone will determine whether the move remains corrective or extends further.

 

Dow Futures

  • Resistance: 48,431 / 48,744
  • Support: 47,719 / 47,401

U.S. equities remain cautious at the start of the year amid fiscal uncertainty and political risks. The Dow was rejected near the 48,744–48,431 resistance zone and has pulled back into the middle of its ascending channel, with 47,719–47,401 acting as key support. The structure suggests high-level consolidation rather than a trend reversal.

 

NAS100

  • Resistance: 25,566 / 25,836
  • Support: 25,018 / 24,744

The NAS100 is consolidating near record highs as profit-taking in tech stocks tempers short-term sentiment. Rate-cut expectations and the medium-term AI theme continue to provide underlying support. Technically, price remains capped by resistance but holds within an overall ascending structure.

 

BTC

  • Resistance: 89,086/89,821
  • Support: 86,743/86,020

Bitcoin is consolidating around 88,000–89,000, with a clear 4H range structure; resistance stands at 89,086–89,821 after repeated rejections. Support at 86,743–86,020 remains intact, suggesting consolidation rather than reversal, as unstable ETF flows and macro uncertainty cap upside unless a decisive breakout occurs.

Enjoy trading! The content is for reference only. Please ensure that you understand the risk.

Recent News
Free Demo Account
Practice risk-free
Master the markets
Trade live when you’re ready!
Popular posts

ATFX

ATFX UK (AT Global Markets (UK) Ltd.) focuses on developing institutional business and professional investors and does not accept retail clients under its UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) license.

For professional client applications, please contact [email protected].

ATFX

Important Notice

We would like to inform you that, in order to ensure full compliance with the regulations of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), the opening of new accounts for individuals residing or domiciled in the Federative Republic of Brazil is currently unavailable.

This measure is necessary to complete the final stages of the technological and operational integration process with our local intermediary partner, Levycam CCTVM Ltda. (CNPJ 50.579.044/0001-96), in accordance with the guidelines set forth in CVM Guidance Opinion No. 33/2005.

As a result, it is not possible to proceed with your account opening request at this time. Once the regulatory and operational integration process is completed, the account opening flow will be enabled, and interested parties will be duly informed.

ATFX is not authorized by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) to offer intermediation or distribution services for securities issued abroad to investors residing in the Federative Republic of Brazil. Currently, ATFX does not operate nor actively offer intermediation services in Brazil. By accessing this website, investors declare that they are aware of the applicable legal restrictions and agree that they are operating outside the jurisdiction of the CVM. Investments abroad are not covered by the protection mechanisms existing in Brazil, such as the MRP and the FGC. With the objective of enabling future regularized operations, ATFX has entered into a contract for the provision of foreign intermediation services with the Brazilian brokerage firm Levycam CCTVM (CNPJ 50.579.044/0001-96), as provided for in CVM Guidance Opinion No. 33/2005. However, activities related to local intermediation are still in the pre-operational phase (technological and regulatory integration process). If you have any questions regarding the regulation of your trading accounts, please contact us.

ATFX

🌍 Welcome to ATFX!

To provide you with the best trading experience in Iraq, please visit our localized website:

There, you’ll find all products, services, and contact information tailored specifically for you. Thank you for choosing ATFX!

ATFX

Restrictions on Use

Products and Services on this website https://www.atfx.com/en-ae/ are not suitable
in your country. Such information and materials should not be regarded as or
constitute a distribution, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any investments.
Please visit https://www.atfx.com/en/ to proceed.

ATFX

使用限制

本网站的产品及服务不适合英国居民。网站内部的信息和素材不应被视为分销,要约,买入或卖出任何投资产品。请继续访问 https://www.atfx.com/en/

ATFX

Restrictions on Use

Products and Services on this website are not suitable for the UK residents. Such information and materials should not be regarded as or constitute a distribution, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any investments. Please visit https://www.atfx.com/en/ to proceed.

ATFX

Restrictions on Use

Please note, you may be accessing this page from outside Australia. Products and Services on https://www.atfx.com/en-au/ may not be suitable in your country. The information provided should not be considered as an offer, solicitation, or distribution for any investments.

Restrictions on Use

Products and Services on https://www.atfx.com/en-au/ are not suitable in your country. The information provided should not be considered as an offer, solicitation, or distribution for any investments.

Choose another region to see content specific to your location.

ATFX

Restrictions on Use

ATFX

Restrictions on Use

AT Global Markets (UK) Limited does not offer trading services to retail clients.
If you are a professional client, please visit https://www.atfxconnect.com/