Gold Stays Under Pressure as the Market Watches “Line-in-the-Sand” Lev

Gold was still under pressure on January 8, 2026, as traders digested a weekly jobless-claims update that came in less dramatic than expected—enough to keep the market cautious, but not enough to force a clear shift in sentiment. Kitco’s Neils Christensen framed it simply: gold continued to struggle to “find its footing” even with the labor headline in play.

When macro headlines don’t create a clean direction, price action tends to take over. That’s where Jim Wyckoff’s intraday approach comes in: identifying key entry areas and nearby decision zones that active traders can use to manage risk in real time. Instead of guessing the “big move,” the idea is to let price confirm—watching whether gold can hold above near-term support areas or whether sellers regain control at resistance.

Bottom line: January 8 looked like a market caught between “good enough” economic data and a chart that still demanded proof. In that environment, discipline matters—tight levels, defined exits, and patience until price picks a side.

Sources:

Christensen, Neils. “Gold price remains under pressure as U.S. jobless claims rise less than expected.” Kitco News, 8 Jan. 2026, https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-01-08/gold-price-remains-under-pressure-us-jobless-claims-rise-less-expected

Wyckoff, Jim. “Gold market analysis for January 8 - key intra-day price entry levels for active traders.” Kitco News, 8 Jan. 2026, https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-01-08/gold-market-analysis-january-8-key-intra-day-price-entry-levels-active