Gold just entered into a death cross, and some see more pain ahead

Keris Lahiff| @kerisalison Published 6 Hours AgoCNBC.com show chapters Gold just entered into a death cross, and some see more pain ahead   12 Hours Ago |03:10

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for gold bugs, it has. Gold has sunk into a correction, and some forecast further downside to come.

The charts could signal more trouble ahead for the yellow metal, Craig Johnson, chief market technician at Piper Jaffray, told CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Thursday. The precious metal entered a death cross at the end of June, a bearish technical signal wherein a 50-day moving average crosses below a 200-day.

It's also struggling to break through a stubborn level of resistance, Johnson said.

"Four times, [gold has] tried to break through $1,360, haven't been able to do that and now gold is selling off," he said. "The next real support level is going to come in around $1,200 to $1,210."

Gold tried and failed to break and hold above $1,360 in late March and through April. It last closed above that level in late January. Gold has not moved below $1,200 since March 2017.

The safe haven asset has fallen more than 6 percent in the year to date, while the S&P 500 has added 5 percent. The U.S. dollar index, which typically moves in opposition to gold, has gained nearly 3 percent.

Stacey Gilbert, market strategist at Susquehanna, does not see much upside to gold this year, either.

"The sentiment certainly is not bullish on gold. We've had about $2 billion come out of gold ETFs over the last month. That does put gold ETF lows negative on the year," Gilbert told "Trading Nation" on Thursday.

The GLD Gold Trust is down 6 percent in the year to date, while the GDX gold miners ETF has tumbled nearly 7 percent.

Gilbert does see some value in gold as a safe play against riskier assets.

"It is a great hedge," said Gilbert. "Looking at GLD, the gold ETF, that volatility is in the 20th percentile over the last two years. That means the options that you would be purchasing are in the 20th percentile. They are getting as cheap as we have seen them over the last couple of years. So for an investor who wants a hedge, I always love gold."

Gold was on track Friday to close out the past five sessions with a more than 1 percent drop for its second week in a row. If losses hold in July, it will mark its fourth straight monthly loss.

Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding.