US stock futures steady with China trade talks, Q3 earnings in focus
Gold futures have entered a short-term corrective phase following an extraordinary rally that lifted prices to a new high of $4,392—precisely aligning with the Sell 2 daily VC PMI level. This powerful rally, which began from the October 11 low of $3,961, represents an extension of the 30-day cycle that continues to dominate the market’s upward structure. The sharp reaction from the upper extreme signals that momentum may have temporarily peaked, opening the door for mean reversion as price seeks equilibrium within the VC PMI daily framework.
From a daily perspective, the key reference levels are:
- Sell 2 Daily: $4,422
- Sell 1 Daily: $4,363
- VC PMI Daily Mean: $4,289
- Buy 1 Daily: $4,230
- Buy 2 Daily: $4,156
After touching the Sell 2 zone, the market reversed lower, breaking below the VC PMI mean of $4,289 and currently trading around $4,268. This indicates a short-term bearish bias within a broader bullish structure. The mean reversion process is expected to continue until the market tests the Buy 1 ($4,230) or Buy 2 ($4,156) levels, where renewed buying interest could emerge. The VC PMI methodology suggests that the highest probability trades now lie in anticipating a return toward the mean or accumulation zones.
On a weekly timeframe, equilibrium levels remain far below current price action:
- Sell 2 Weekly: $4,169
- Sell 1 Weekly: $4,084
- VC PMI Weekly Mean: $4,000
The clear separation between the daily and weekly means underscores that the intermediate trend remains bullish. Gold continues to trade well above its weekly equilibrium, confirming strong underlying demand. However, overextension into higher volatility zones typically precedes consolidation, as short-term traders take profits and longer-term participants reassess positions.
The MACD (14, 3, 3) has crossed negatively (–6.14 vs. Signal –5.60), confirming a loss of upward momentum and potential short-term retracement. Volume spikes around $4,390 further suggest distribution pressure and possible exhaustion at the upper end of the daily range.
From a cycle standpoint, the 30-day and 360-day harmonic structures point to a minor turning window between October 18–20, marking a likely setup for the next pivot low. The Square of 9 price spiral also aligns with this time window, indicating that the market could stabilize and resume its primary bullish trajectory toward the next cycle high projected into late October.
Conclusion
Gold’s recent pullback represents a healthy mean-reversion phase within a larger bull market. As long as prices remain above the $4,156–$4,230 support zone, the long-term trend remains intact. Watch for confirmation of a pivot low around October 18–20 as the next potential launching point toward retesting the $4,392–$4,450 area.
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