Gold and Silver Prices Crash Amid US Fed Rate Hike Fears

Precious metal prices witnessed a significant downturn on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) as market participants reacted to signals from the US Federal Reserve. Investors are bracing for potential interest rate increases later this year, causing a sharp correction in both gold and silver futures.

Why the Federal Reserve is Pressuring Precious Metals

The primary catalyst for this market volatility is the US Federal Reserve's latest policy stance. While the Fed chose to keep interest rates unchanged in its recent meeting—maintaining the current range of 3.50%-3.75%—the underlying projections have spooked traders. According to data released on Wednesday, nine out of 19 US policymakers now believe a policy rate hike will be necessary before the end of the year.

In economic terms, when the Fed signals higher interest rates, yields on interest-bearing assets like bonds and deposits typically rise. This makes non-yielding assets like gold relatively less attractive to investors, leading to the current sell-off. Interestingly, this decline occurred despite easing oil prices following a US-Iran interim agreement, which had previously helped mitigate inflation concerns.

MCX Market Performance: Silver and Gold Slump

The impact on the domestic commodity market was immediate and substantial. On the MCX, silver futures for July 2026 delivery plummeted by Rs 6,298, a 2.5% drop, bringing the price down to Rs 2,45,509 per kg. Gold futures for August 2026 delivery also faced heavy selling pressure, declining by Rs 1,600 to settle at Rs 1,52,304 per 10 grams.

In the international markets, the movement was more mixed. Spot gold saw a 1.4% rise to $4,316.42 per ounce following a previous dip, while U.S. gold futures for August delivery slipped by 1% to $4,336.70. Silver in the international spot market climbed 1.8% to $69.18 per ounce, showing some resilience compared to the domestic futures market.

Expert Outlook: Support Levels and Trading Strategy

For investors looking to navigate this volatility, technical levels are crucial. Manoj Kumar Jain of Prithvi Finmart identified key support and resistance zones to guide trading decisions. For gold, the immediate support is pegged between Rs 1,52,000 and Rs 1,52,800, with resistance seen at the Rs 1,54,400–1,55,500 range. Silver faces support at Rs 2,44,400–2,48,000, while resistance stands at Rs 2,55,000–2,58,800.

Regarding immediate strategy, experts suggest that those holding long positions should consider booking profits. Rather than chasing the market during this volatility, seasoned traders are advised to wait for fresh entry opportunities within established support zones.

Key Takeaways