Finance·Methodological Papers / Methods Articles
Abstract
This paper investigates the impact of macroeconomic announcements on gold prices
(XAU/USD) in the forex market and the corresponding behavioral responses of retail investors,
with particular focus on the Indian market. Using a mixed-methods approach combining a
primary survey of 100 respondents with secondary data analysis, the study finds that interest
rate decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and inflation data (CPI) are the most influential
drivers of gold price volatility. Correlation analysis yielded r = 0.76, confirming a strong
positive relationship between macroeconomic news and gold price movements. Both
hypotheses of the study are accepted: macroeconomic announcements significantly affect gold
price volatility, and investor awareness of such announcements significantly influences trading
behavior. The study also reveals that 40% of retail traders rely primarily on social media for
financial information, underscoring the need for structured financial literacy programs. The
findings contribute to bridging macroeconomic theory with behavioral finance in the context
of Indian forex gold trading.