Gold drops to session low of $1245 after mixed US data

Extending its downward trajectory, Gold has broken below 50-day SMA support near $1250 level to currently trade at $1246, near low point of the day.

As the greenback maintained its bid tone after the release of mixed US economic data, the precious metal seems to face difficulty in registering even a minor recovery from lower levels. According to the data released just a short while ago, the number of individuals who filed for unemployment related benefits during the past week dropped by 16,000 to 278,000, clearly pointing to the inherent strength in the US labor market. Meanwhile, the Philly Fed manufacturing index dropped further to negative 1.8 in May vs. negative 1.6 in April.

From technical perspective, the precious metal has now weakened below its short-term moving averages (10, 20 & 50-day SMAs), suggesting that the near-term selling pressure might continue for some more time.

Technical levels to watch

From current levels, the commodity seems to extend its fall towards $1245 support, below which it could extend the depreciating move towards $1232-32 horizontal support.

Conversely, momentum back above 50-day SMA ($1250 region) seems to assist the metal to extend its bounce towards $1256-58 region. Any further momentum beyond $1256-58 resistance might now be capped at the trading range support break-point turned resistance near $1263-65 zone.