Bets for another 25 bps Fed rate hikes cap the XAU/USD

The upside for the Gold price, however, remains capped amid the prospects for further policy tightening by the Fed. The markets are currently pricing in a greater chance of another 25 basis points (bps) rate hike at the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in May. The bets were reaffirmed by hawkish comments by Philadelphia Fed Bank President Patrick Harker, saying that the US central bank is fully committed to bringing inflation back down to the 2% target.

Dips could be seen as a buying opportunity

This, for the time being, puts a floor under the US Treasury bond yields, which holds back traders from placing aggressive bearish bets around the USD and contributes to capping gains for the non-yielding Gold price. Nevertheless, the aforementioned fundamental backdrop suggests that the path of least resistance for the XAU/USD is to the upside. Hence, any meaningful corrective pullback is more likely to get bought into and is more likely to remain limited.