XAU/USD retreats from its annual high reached on March 20 at 2,009.66. The global banking jitters have passed for now and US Treasury yields have been bouncing, erasing Gold's strength.

According to the 1-hour chart, gold is trading below the 21 SMA located at 1,975 and below the strong resistance of 1,986. We can clearly see that the asset is under strong bearish pressure but it could find a bottom around 1,960. At this level in the 4-hour chart, we can see the 21 SMA which will act as strong support and gold could then resume the bullish cycle.

In case gold breaks out sharply and consolidates below 1,960, we would expect a bearish acceleration and the instrument could reach the 6/8 Murray at 1,937 and could ultimately reach the 200 EMA located at 1,919.

On the contrary, if gold remains above 1,960, it could give us a signal to buy with targets at 1,975 (21 SMA) and 1,986 (weekly_resistance).

Since its high reached in the last hours, gold has made a correction of almost $40 as part of profit taking. The instrument is likely to see a technical rebound in the coming hours and then continue with a short-term downtrend.

Our trading plan for the next few hours is to sell below 7/8 Murray located at 1,968, with targets at 1,960. Around this level, we can expect a technical bounce to buy with targets at 1,975. The Eagle indicator from 20 March is giving a negative signal. Hence, as long as the metal trades below 1,985, any technical bounce will be seen as a signal to sell.