Spot gold closed higher last week, settling at $4,052.845. The precious metal gained $35.53, or 0.88%, driven by late Friday buying and short-covering. Brent crude oil also pulled back from above $100, while Treasury yields eased.
Despite last week’s rise, gold has fallen 23% since February. The market trend is down, according to weekly charts. A trade below the minor bottom at $3942.10 would signal a return to the downtrend.
Gold has traded near a key 50% level at $4069.54 for five weeks. Traders now await the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on Wednesday. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report follows on Thursday.
Federal Reserve Chairman Warsh’s stance on inflation will be closely watched. If he indicates inflation risks persist, yields and the dollar could strengthen, potentially pushing gold lower. Crude oil prices also remain a key variable, with gold buyers needing oil to stay contained.