• Gold price lacks firm intraday direction on Monday amid a combination of diverging forces.
• A positive risk tone caps gains, though geopolitical risks and Fed rate cut bets lend support.
• Traders also seem reluctant ahead of the key US inflation figures, due for release this week. 

Gold price (XAU/USD) struggles to capitalize on its gains registered over the past two days and oscillates in a narrow trading band during the Asian session on Monday. A generally positive tone around the equity markets is seen acting as a headwind for the safe-haven precious metal, though a combination of factors should help limit any meaningful downside. The risk of a further escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East should keep a lid on any optimism in the markets. Furthermore, dovish Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations keep the US Dollar (USD) bulls on the defensive and should offer support to the non-yielding yellow metal.

Traders also seem reluctant and might prefer to wait on the sidelines ahead of this week's release of the latest inflation figures from the US before placing aggressive directional bets around the Gold price. The US Producer Price Index (PPI) is due on Tuesday, followed by the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. Apart from this, the US Retail Sales data on Thursday will influence expectations about the Fed's policy path, which, in turn, will drive the USD demand and provide some meaningful impetus to the XAU/USD. Apart from this, geopolitical developments will help in determining the near-term trajectory for the commodity.