Gold (XAU/USD) edged higher in Asian trading, ending a two-day slide, but remained below $4,450 as the US Dollar eased from a three-week high, helped by a firmer Japanese Yen. Even so, expectations of a hawkish Federal Reserve stance and ongoing geopolitical tension kept support under the USD and capped the non-yielding metal. Markets are holding back ahead of US inflation releases, with Producer Price Index (PPI) data due on Thursday before Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures on Friday, while the latest Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report showed August job growth accelerated. The focus is on whether higher energy prices feed inflation risks, with the Strait of Hormuz in view after Iran warned of retaliation and discussed enforcing a full blockade.
Technical Analysis and Key Levels
Technically, gold is holding above the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) near $4,288 and a Fibonacci support zone. Momentum signals are mixed, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 52 and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) below zero at about -24. Resistance is seen near $4,523 and then $4,697.36, while support levels sit around $4,415, $4,328 and $4,241.94, with the 200-day EMA reinforcing the floor. Core inflation targets remain around 2%, with CPI tracked on month-on-month and year-on-year bases.