Gold Futures Expected To Trade Higher Next Week

By Zufazlin Baharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- The gold futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is expected to trade higher next week, as investors are still drawn to the safe-haven asset following the United States (US) Federal Reserve (Fed) decision to cut interest rates for the third time this year.

The US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) made a bold move by cutting interest rates to 3.5–3.75 per cent, the third reduction this year from 4.25–4.50 per cent in December last year — a decision that also weighed on the US dollar.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd’s chief economist, Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, told Bernama that the gold is likely to hold around US$4,300 per troy ounce level next week. 

He said a series of key US data releases next week will also provide fresh guidance for market participants.

These include the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), as well as the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI).

Week-on-week, the spot-month December 2025 contract edged higher to US$4,324.50 per troy ounce from US$4,206.10 per troy ounce.

The January 2026 contract strengthened to US$4,341.40 per troy ounce from US$4,221.80 per troy ounce, while February 2026 edged lower to US$4,357.20 per troy ounce from US$4,269.90 a week earlier.

Meanwhile, April 2026 and June 2026 contracts both settled higher at US$4,394.20 per troy ounce from US$4,303.80 per troy ounce previously.

Weekly trading volume tumbled to 192 lots from 299 lots last week, while open interest increased to 238 contracts from 148 contracts a week ago.

Physical gold was priced at US$4,230.35 per troy ounce, according to the London Bullion Market Association afternoon fix on Dec 11, 2025.

-- BERNAMA