• Gold price remains sidelined between 100-day and 50-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs).
• Sluggish markets, mixed sentiment keep traders waiting for fresh clues even as United States data favored XAU/USD bears previously.
• Federal Reserve concerns, geopolitical headlines will be eyed together with the US PMIs for February.

Gold price (XAU/USD) struggles for clear directions around $1,840, following a mildly negative start to the week’s trading, as traders await the preliminary readings of the United States Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for February. Adding strength to the XAU/USD inaction could be the lack of directives from markets amid Monday’s holiday in the US, as well as a light calendar before Tuesday’s PMIs.

Gold bears remain hopeful but bulls resist stepping back

The fresh hawkish concerns from the United States data surrounding inflation and output have renewed hopes of that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will keep the interest rates higher for longer. The same underpins the US Dollar’s rebound and exert downside pressure on the Gold price.

However, the last round of the Fed policymakers appeared mixed and hence seems to raise doubts on the policy pivot, as well as the future rate lifts from the US central bank, which in turn puts a floor under the XAU/USD price.

Alternatively, hopes of more stimulus from China, as perceived from the People’s Bank of China’s (PBOC) inaction, as well as the government’s measures to defend the struggling housing sector, seems to favor the Gold buyers. Furthermore, the nearness to the Fed’s peak rate also likely to help the XAU/USD bears from rejecting the defeat.

Geopolitical fears, Purchasing Managers Index eyed ahead of Fed Minutes

While the aforementioned catalysts highlight this week’s Fed Minutes for clear directions, fears emanating from China, Russia and North Korea, seem to gain major attention and should be eyed for clear directions of the Gold price. Also important will be the first readings of the global PMIs for February.

Should the scheduled US PMIs appear firmer than January and manage to cross the 50.0 mark, despite unimpressive expectations, that odds of witnessing further US Dollar strength and the XAU/USD weakness can’t be ruled out.

On the contrary, the fears surrounding the US and China are likely to keep exerting downside pressure on the Gold price as neither the US nor China appears interested in solving the political differences. Recently, both the nations alleged each other over the balloon shooting whereas the US diplomatic with Taiwan may tease Beijing. On the same line, the United Nations (UN) Security Council is being alarmed by Japan for North Korea’s missile testing and the same can weigh on the sentiment, as well as the XAU/USD price.

That said, S&P 500 Futures print mild losses near 4,075 amid sluggish US 10-year Treasury bond yields.

Gold price technical analysis

Gold price seesaws between the 100-day and 50-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), respectively near $1,820 and $1,854 by the press time.

The pair’s latest inaction should have taken clues from the sluggish Relative Strength Index (RSI) line, placed at 14.

However, the bearish signals from the Moving Average Convergence and Divergence (MACD) indicator joins the XAU/USD’s sustained break of the previous support line from late November 2022, close to $1,912 at the latest, keeps the Gold bears hopeful.

That said, the two-week-old descending trend line adds strength to the $1,820 support comprising the 50-day EMA.

Hence, the Gold price may keep grinding higher unless declining back below the $1,820. However, the upside appears limited unless the XAU/USD stays below $1,912.

Gold price: Daily chart

Trend: Further upside expected