Key Events
- Dip buying and haven flows have lifted gold and silver back toward key resistance zones near 5,100 and 80
- The simultaneous rise in gold, the dollar, and oil reflects defensive positioning typically associated with Middle East tensions
- Key levels remain in focus to confirm potential long-term structural bullish shifts that could recalibrate broader market and liquidity risks
Risk-off sentiment remains the dominant theme across global markets. Concerns surrounding AI-sector volatility, rising geopolitical frictions, and US–Middle East tensions continue to sustain demand for defensive assets. This environment has kept dip-buying interest in gold and silver intact, while also supporting upside hedging activity in crude oil.
The US dollar is holding firm as well, driven by cautious haven flows and short-term expectations that the Federal Reserve may maintain its current rate stance. Together, these dynamics are reinforcing a cross-asset defensive bias.
CME Crude Oil Option Volumes
Crude oil prices have maintained a bullish bias since December 2025, supported by winter demand and supply disruption concerns. The recent rebound back above the 65 mark aligns with upside hedging across option contracts, will call options significantly above puts for contracts expiring in April.
Technically, crude is testing the upper bound of a 2023–2026 down trending channel for the third time this year, placing the market at a potential structural breakout.
Crude Oil Weekly Outlook – Log Scale
Source: Trading view
The key resistance currently sits near 66.80. A break above this level exposes 68.40, 70.40, and 74 — levels last seen during the June 2025 Middle East escalation. A weekly close above 74 would confirm a structural shift, opening the door toward 80 and reinforcing longer-term bullish expectations, with potential implications for global inflation pressures and prolonged rate-hold expectations.
Failure to hold above 62 would reassert bearish dominance, shifting focus back toward the 50s.
With the energy sector leading, overall sentiment remains cautious.
The CNN Fear and Greed Index continues to signal fear, although conditions have improved slightly from earlier in the week. This raises both contrarian interest and the risk of sharp reversals.
Source: CNN
This sentiment tone, combined with elevated crude prices, is sustaining haven demand. Gold and silver are holding near key breakout levels around 5,100 and 80, while the DXY tests resistance near 97.70.
Gold, Silver Outlook: 3 Month Time Frame – Log Scale
Source: Trading view
Gold and silver’s upside and downside potential can be assessed on the three-month charts. Upside projections are measured by the height of the prior consolidation ranges, while downside risk aligns with the upper bounds of those former breakout structures.
- For silver, downside risk emerges below 70 and 64, exposing 48. On the upside, a sustained move above 90 and 110 opens the path toward 130, 200, and, in extended projections, 600.
- For gold, a break below 4,800 and 4,400 exposes 4,000 and 3,700. On the upside, a sustained move above 5,100 reinforces the broader breakout scenario towards the 6,000 threshold.
For a more detailed analysis of gold and silver, refer to my latest article here: Gold, Silver Outlook: Key Levels vs Volatility Risks
DXY Outlook: Monthly Outlook – Log Scale
Source: Trading view
The 18-year uptrend structure remains intact. A sustained break below the 95 zone would signal a structural bearish shift and alter the broader liquidity backdrop.
On the upside, 99.50 and 100.40 remain the key confirmation levels. A move above these thresholds would reassert the dollar’s multi-year bullish structure and reinforce pressure on currencies and precious metals.
Key levels remain decisive despite shifting headlines
Written by Razan Hilal, CMT
Follow on X: @Rh_waves
