- Gold price fails to attract any buyers or build on the overnight bounce from a multi-month low.
- Hawkish major central banks continue to act as a headwind for the non-yielding commodity.
- The US Dollar stands tall near a two-week high and also contributes to capping the XAU/USD.
- Investors keenly await the release of the US PCE Price Index before placing directional bets.
Gold price struggles to capitalize on the overnight bounce from the $1,893-$1,892 area, or its lowest level since mid-March and oscillates in a narrow trading band during the Asian session on Friday. The XAU/USD currently trades below the $1,910 level, nearly unchanged for the day as traders keenly await the release of the key inflation data from the United States (US) before placing fresh directional bets.
Market focus remains glued to US PCE Price Index
The US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, especially the core reading, is the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) preferred inflation gauge and might influence expectations about the future rate-hike path. This, in turn, will play a key role in influencing the US Dollar (USD) price dynamics and help determine the next leg of a directional move for the Gold price. In the meantime, the USD is seen consolidating its gains recorded over the past two trading days, to the highest level since June 13, and lends some support to the US Dollar-denominated XAU/USD.
Hawkish central banks continue to cap Gold price
That said, a more hawkish outlook by major central banks continues to act as a headwind for the non-yielding Gold price and keeps a lid on any meaningful recovery. In fact, the European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde, speaking at the Sintra central banking event in Portugal, said that inflation in the Eurozone is too high and is set to remain so for too long, lifting bets for a ninth consecutive lift-off in July. Adding to this, the Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey hinted that rates could remain at peak levels for longer than traders currently expect.
Elevated US bond yields underpin the USD and cap XAU/USD
Fed Chair Jerome Powell, meanwhile, reiterated that two rate increases are likely this year and said that he does not see inflation coming down to the Fed’s 2% target until 2025. This, along with the upbeat US macro data released on Thursday, reaff