Gold Price Prediction Ahead of FOMC Meeting on March 18, 2026, Good Time to Buy Gold?

Jakarta, Pintu News – Gold prices held steady at $5,171 (IDR 87,684 million) on Sunday after a surge in buying in the previous session pushed bullion prices sharply higher. The precious metal added $21.62 (IDR 366,610) or 0.42% on a daily basis. Silver prices also jumped to 84.54, an increase of 0.39% over the same period.

The precious metal remained on the defensive after an up-and-down trading movement throughout the previous week. Gold prices briefly touched a high of 5,176 and then entered a consolidation phase within a narrow range. The daily low was around 5,150, reflecting a relatively mild change in sentiment.

A number of macroeconomic indicators are now on the radar of market participants, even before major policy events. The latest information and global risks are again shaping market expectations on the direction of interest rates.

FOMC Meeting Outlook and Policy Expectations

The FOMC meeting that will take place on March 17-18 attracts enormous global attention. Investors are waiting for signals regarding the future direction of borrowing costs. The policy statement is scheduled for release at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Read also: Gold Price 1 Gram Today, March 9, 2026

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will deliver a statement at 2:30 pm ET following the decision announcement. His remarks often shape market direction in the short term. The latest economic projections will also be published alongside the decision.

Market participants closely monitor what is known as the dot plot to read interest rate clues. This chart summarizes policymakers’ expectations of future interest rate levels. Weaker labor data increased speculation that policy easing could occur in the latter half of this year.

The latest Nonfarm Payroll data showed a loss of 92,000 jobs in February, contrary to economists’ expectations of a slight gain. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.4%.

The figure is still slightly below the Federal Reserve’s projection of 4.5% for 2026. However, the market interpreted the report as a signal of slowing economic momentum. Expectations of interest rate cuts increased to around 43 basis points.

Gold prices briefly rose more than 1% after the release of the labor data. However, the strengthening dollar and rising yields held back further room for gains.

Crypto Market, Data Agenda, and Broader Sentiment

Financial market conditions remain generally mixed ahead of some important data releases. The global crypto market fell 1.02% at the end of last week. Total capitalization stands at around $2.3 trillion.

Bitcoin (BTC) price held below $69,000 in the latest session. Ethereum is trading relatively stable above $1,700. Overall, digital assets are still struggling to re-establish strong upward momentum.

Market participants are also bracing for the release of key inflation and growth indicators next week. Expected reports include consumer inflation, housing data, as well as GDP updates. Durable Goods Orders and Initial Jobless Claims data are also scheduled for release.

The market is expected to pay particular attention to the Core PCE Price Index, the inflation indicator most prioritized by the Federal Reserve.

Read also: Bitcoin Price Reaches $67,000 Today: Whales & Long-Term Holders Keep Buying BTC!

Gold Price Prediction: Will XAU/USD Surge to $5,200?

Technically, gold bullion prices are still moving near an important resistance area around $5,180 (IDR 87,837,260). If the price is able to break and hold stable above the zone, the opportunity for a move towards $5,200 (IDR 88,176,400) will open up.

If the buying impulse continues and prices manage to build momentum above $5,200 (IDR 88,176,400), the upside projection could extend to $5,240 (IDR 88,854,680). Additional strength could also potentially lift the gold price outlook to around $5,280 (IDR 89,532,960) in the following sessions.

On the downside, initial support levels are around $5,150 (IDR 87,328,550), while stronger supports are seen near $5,100 (IDR 86,480,700). A decisive drop below $5,100 (IDR 86,480,700) could re-open the risk of a correction towards $5,060 (IDR 85,802,420). The current market direction is highly dependent on policy signals as well as incoming economic data releases.

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*Disclaimer

This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities are subject to high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold hard cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling Bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.

Reference:

• CoinGape. Gold Price Prediction Ahead Of March 18 FOMC Meeting. Accessed on March 9, 2026