How does Pending Home Sales m/m affect gold prices?

Pending Home Sales m/m (month-over-month) is an economic indicator that reflects trends in the U.S. real estate market, a key sector for assessing the country’s economic conditions. The release of this data can impact various financial assets, including gold prices.

What is the Pending Home Sales m/m index?

Pending Home Sales is an index that reports the number of home sale contracts currently under contract but still waiting to close during a specific period compared to the previous month. This report is published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and is one of the key indicators used to assess the strength of the real estate market.

This index reports month-over-month (m/m) changes, indicating shifts in the number of pending home sale contracts. A home in “pending” status means a sales contract has been signed, but the sale has not yet closed or ownership transferred. A higher number signals strong demand in the housing market, which is a positive indicator of improving economic conditions.

The Importance of Pending Home Sales

This economic indicator is very important for traders because it shows the condition of the U.S. housing market, which can signal the overall economic trend. Movements in this market can also impact other assets such as currencies, stocks, and gold.

Pending-Home-Sales-

Why is Pending Home Sales important to traders?

  • Shows economic strength
    Buying a home is a major household investment. If the number is high, it indicates that people have confidence in the economy and are ready to spend more, which is a good sign that the economy is doing well. On the other hand, if the number is low, it may signal that people are tightening their belts because they fear the economy might slow down.

  • Indicator for Monetary Policy
    Data from this report can be used to predict the direction of the central bank’s (Fed) monetary policy. If the housing market is very strong, the Fed may consider raising interest rates to cool down the economy. Interest rate changes affect the stock market, currency values, and gold prices.
  • Impact on Investment Assets
    Traders investing in gold, stocks, or forex markets may use this data to predict market movements. If the number is high, traders might expect the economy to remain strong, making stocks more attractive. Meanwhile, gold prices may decline as investors shift to assets with higher returns, such as stocks.
  • Dollar Forecast
    This figure also affects the value of the U.S. dollar. If the number rises, traders may predict a stronger dollar as the economy shows growth, increasing demand for the currency. Conversely, if the number falls, the dollar may weaken because investors might see the economy as risky.

Impact of Pending Home Sales on Gold

The impact of Pending Home Sales on gold prices is indirect because it reflects the health of the economy, especially the U.S. housing market, which is a key part of the overall economy. Changes in this indicator can influence investor decisions, which in turn affect gold prices as follows:

Pending Home Sales increase.

Pending Home Sales ลดลง

An increase in home sales indicates growing confidence in the economy, with more home purchases and a stronger real estate market. This boosts the overall economic outlook.

  • As a result, investors often sell gold and shift their investments to higher-yielding assets like stocks or bonds because gold does not pay interest or dividends. Therefore, when the economy is strong, holding gold becomes less attractive.
  • Consequently, gold prices tend to decline when Pending Home Sales rise.

If the number decreases, it indicates fewer home purchases, which may reflect a lack of confidence in the economy or a weakening real estate market.

  • In this case, investors often fear that the economy might slow down or face increased risks, leading them to turn to gold as a safe haven during uncertain economic times.
  • As a result, gold prices tend to rise when Pending Home Sales m/m decline because more people buy gold to hedge against risk.

The connection between the report on pending home sales and monetary policy and interest rates.

The Pending Home Sales report also indirectly influences the decisions of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed). If home sales continue to rise, the Fed may consider raising interest rates to slow economic growth and control inflation. When interest rates rise, the U.S. dollar strengthens, and gold prices tend to fall because investors prefer holding dollars over gold.

Conversely, if home sales decline, the Fed may lower interest rates to stimulate the economy. Lower interest rates weaken the dollar, which typically leads to higher gold prices.

Conclusion

Pending Home Sales is an important indicator that helps us assess the health of the U.S. economy. Although it does not directly impact gold prices, it has an indirect effect because it signals the economic trend and the direction of monetary policy.

When home sales are high and the economy is strong, gold may be sold off and its price may fall. Conversely, when sales are low and the economy is weak, people tend to buy more gold for safety, causing gold prices to rise.

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