Gold price (XAU/USD) attracts some follow-through selling for the second successive day and drops to over a two-week trough, around the $2,860 region during the Asian session on Friday. Bets that the Federal Reserve (Fed) would stick to its hawkish stance on the back of still-elevated inflation assist the US Dollar (USD) to prolong this week's recovery move from the lowest level since December 10. This turns out to be a key factor driving flows away from the non-yielding yellow metal.

Apart from this, the intraday slide could further be attributed to some repositioning trade ahead of the crucial US inflation data, which might influence the Fed's interest rate outlook and determine the near-term trajectory for the Gold price. That said, the uncertainty around US President Donald Trump's tariff plans and the risk-off mood could lend support to the safe-haven precious metal. Furthermore, a fresh leg down in the US Treasury bond yields should limit losses for the XAU/USD pair
Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold price bulls remain on the sidelines amid a broadly stronger USD
Data released on Thursday revealed that inflation in the US continues to rise and backs the case for the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady. This assists the US Dollar in building on its recovery from over a two-month low and drags the non-yielding Gold price to over a two-week low on Friday.
The US Bureau of Economic Analysis published the second reading of the US Gross Domestic Product, which showed that the economy expanded as estimated previously, by a 2.3% annualized pace during the final quarter of 2024. Moreover, the GDP Price Index rose 2.4% compared to the initial estimate of 2.2%.
This comes on top of worries that US President Donald Trump's policies would reignite inflation. Furthermore, Fed officials remain wary of future interest rate cuts amid sticky inflation, which continues to underpin the USD and contributes to driving flows away from the non-yielding yellow metal.
Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid said on Thursday that recent surveys indicated a rise in consumer inflation expectations and that the central bank must stay focused on fully containing price pressures.
Adding to this, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack noted that interest rates are likely on hold for the time being as inflation data starts to pose a growing problem for central policymakers.
Separately, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker noted that progress toward the 2% inflation target has slowed and that the policy rate remains restrictive to continue putting downward pressure on inflation.
Hence, the market focus will remain glued to the release of the US Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Price Index, due later during the North American session. The crucial inflation data will influence the Fed's interest rate outlook, which will drive the USD and provide some meaningful impetus to the XAU/USD pair.
Meanwhile, investors remain worried about the potential economic fallout from Trump's tariff plans. In fact, Trump said that his proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico would come into effect on March 4 as scheduled and has also threatened to announce a 25% tariff on imports from the European Union.

Source: Fxstreet