Kuala lumpur: The gold futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is projected to see an upward trend next week, driven by the appeal of the safe-haven asset in light of the United States Federal Reserve's recent decision to reduce interest rates for the third time this year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has taken a significant step by lowering interest rates to a range of 3.5-3.75 per cent, marking the third reduction from 4.25-4.50 per cent in December of the previous year. This decision has also exerted pressure on the US dollar, influencing the attractiveness of gold as an investment.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd's chief economist, Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, expressed that gold prices are likely to stabilize around the US$4,300 per troy ounce level in the coming week. He noted that a series of key US economic data releases scheduled for next week, including the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), and the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI), will offer fresh insights for market participants.

In the past week, the spot-month December 2025 gold futures contract rose to US$4,324.50 per troy ounce from US$4,206.10 per troy ounce. The January 2026 contract increased to US$4,341.40 per troy ounce, up from US$4,221.80 per troy ounce, whereas the February 2026 contract saw a decrease to US$4,357.20 per troy ounce from US$4,269.90 per troy ounce a week prior.

Additionally, the April 2026 and June 2026 contracts both experienced gains, settling at US$4,394.20 per troy ounce compared to US$4,303.80 per troy ounce previously. Despite a decline in weekly trading volume to 192 lots from 299 lots the previous week, open interest saw an increase, rising to 238 contracts from 148 contracts.

The physical gold price was recorded at US$4,230.35 per troy ounce, as per the London Bullion Market Association afternoon fix on December 11, 2025.