u/ConfusionDue7678

The World Gold Council’s Q1 2026 Gold Demand Trends report reveals that total quarterly gold demand reached 1,231t, a 2% increase year-on-year. While volumes increased modestly, the value of demand surged to a record US$193bn, up 74% year-on-year.

Around the world, retail investors were drawn to gold’s price momentum and safe-haven appeal, driving bar and coin demand up 42% year-on-year to 474t. Demand in China surged 67% year-on-year to a record 207t, considerably higher than the previous quarterly record of 155t in Q2’13. Other Eastern markets, including India, South Korea and Japan, also saw an increase in bar and coin buying, contributing to the ongoing structural shift in gold demand. Bar and coin demand was also supported by strong growth in the US and Europe, up 14% and 50% respectively.

Physically-backed gold ETF demand remained positive in Q1: holdings increased by 62t, largely supported by continued strength across Asian-listed funds, which added 84t over the quarter. Sizeable outflows in March, mostly from US listed funds, tempered what had been a very strong start to the year.

​

Trend is short-term bearish, Gold is showing weakness after failing to sustain above the 4725–4750 resistance zone.

Recent candles indicate increasing selling pressure with lower highs forming.

Support Levels:

• 4650 – Immediate support

• 4600 – Strong psychological support

Resistance Levels:

• 4685 – Near-term resistance

• 4750 – Major resistance

Bias remains bearish unless price reclaims 4685–4700. A sustained move below 4650 could extend downside toward 4625/4600

while recovery above 4725 may trigger short-covering bounce.

Market sentiment remains cautious amid volatile gold flows.

I have been watching gold on the 15M. The structure still looks bad for gold after that big drop in price.

The price of gold is now going up into a area where I think people will sell gold, which is around 4570 to 4580.

This looks like gold is just going back up a little after the drop not that it is really turning around.

My current thoughts on gold are:

* The overall structure for gold is bad

* What is happening with gold now is that it is going up into an area where people want to sell gold

* The area I am looking at for gold is where it might make a high

If gold stays below this area I think it might go back down to around 4500 to 4485.

If the price of gold starts to stay above this area that could change what I think will happen with gold in the short term.

I am watching gold to see if it does a things, such as:

* If gold goes up into this area. Then comes back down which would be a sign that people are selling gold

* If gold is not going up strongly

* If gold can break above the area where people are selling gold and stay there.

I am curious to know what other people think about gold.

Is gold making a high or does gold have the strength to go higher, from here?

The price of oil is still going up overall. It got rejected near $110, which means it might be a little weak in the short term. Now the price is around the 20 SMA, which is like the middle of the Bollinger Band and this is a point where important decisions are made.

Here are the key levels to watch:

* Support: $103.5 to $104

* Resistance: $107 to $109 to $110

What can happen next?

If the price of USOil stays above the support level it might go back up to $107 or more.

If it goes below the support level it might go down to $102 to $100.

So what is the overall situation? The trend, for USOil is still going up. In the short term it looks like it is just moving sideways or going down a bit.

Will the price of USOil keep going up. Will it go down even more?

WTI rises as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut, tightening Middle East supplies.

Oil gains may be capped as markets assess ceasefire prospects and potential reopening after Iran’s latest US proposal.

Six Iranian tankers turned back amid US blockade; ADNOC LNG tanker crossed Hormuz, nearing India.

A US official said on Monday that President Donald Trump is dissatisfied with Iran’s proposal. Iranian sources added that Tehran avoided addressing its nuclear program until hostilities cease and Gulf shipping disputes are resolved.

Now in its ninth week, the conflict has pushed energy prices higher and disrupted major supply chains, while the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns of a potential supply shock alongside slowing demand risks.

A US tanker called the Otis just unloaded 910,000 barrels of Texas light oil at a refinery near Tokyo.

The route avoided the Strait of Hormuz entirely. Through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific.

This is the moment energy logistics started rerouting around the Iran war.

For 50 years, Japan has imported the majority of its oil from the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia and the UAE alone account for over 80% of Japanese crude imports historically. Every barrel passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

When the strait becomes a war zone, every Japanese refinery becomes a single point of failure.

The US replacement supply chain is the response.

Texas Permian production is now 6.4 million barrels per day. Capacity exists to redirect a meaningful portion to East Asia via the Panama Canal route. The transit time is 22–25 days vs the 18-day Hormuz route. Slightly longer, dramatically safer.

The economics work because Permian is now competitively priced with Saudi Light at the same East Asian refineries. WTI