XAU/USD clings to mild losses above $1,800, US employment clues, Fed Chair Powell eyed

Gold price (XAU/USD) remains sidelined around $1,812, after refreshing the weekly low earlier in the day, as markets turn dicey ahead of the top-tier data/events scheduled for release on Wednesday. In addition to the pre-data anxiety, a light calendar in Asia and reassessment of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) hawkish calls, as well as headlines surrounding China, also prod the XAU/USD bears after posting the biggest daily slump in a month.

The US removal of the testing restrictions on travelers from China appears an immediate challenge for the Gold bears amid silence after the storm. On the same line could be the talks surrounding a sooner end to the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) ultra-easy money policy, which in turn allowed the US bond bears to take a breather as Tokyo is Washington’s biggest bond buyer.

That said, Fed Chair Powell surprised traders by showing readiness for more rate hikes and bolstered the bets of a 50 bps Fed rate hike in March during the Semi-Annual Testimony before the US Congress on Tuesday. The policymaker propelled the “higher for longer” Fed rate expectations and bolstered the US Treasury bond yields while weighing on the equities. His comments propelled the yields and the US Dollar.

Adding strength to the US Dollar’s upside were the market’s fears of more US-China tussles as officials from the US and Taiwan are up for a meeting, which in turn could tease Beijing.

It should be noted that Fed Chair Powell’s hawkish remarks widened the difference between the US 10-year and two-year Treasury bond yields, which in turn propelled the recession woes and exert downside pressure on the XAU/USD price. The US 10-year Treasury bond yields rose 0.15% while closing around 3.97% on Tuesday but the two-year counterpart gained 2.60% on a day when poking the highest levels since 2007, to 5.02% at the latest.

Against this backdrop, the S&P 500 Futures remain indecisive around the 3,988 level after falling the most in two weeks the previous day. On the other hand, the difference between the 10-year and two-year US bond coupons marked the deepest yield curve inversion in more than 40 years the previous day, keeping it intact by the press time

Looking ahead, the US ADP Employment Change for February and the second round of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Testimony will be important for fresh directions ahead of Friday’s US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP).