Gold price remains confined in a range near weekly top ahead of US inflation data

Gold price (XAU/USD) remains confined in a narrow band near the weekly high through the first half of the European session on Wednesday, awaiting a fresh catalyst before the next leg of a directional move. Hence, the focus will remain glued to the release of the crucial US Consumer Price Index (CPI), which might influence the Federal Reserve's (Fed) rate-cut path. This, in turn, will play a key role in driving the US Dollar (USD) demand in the near term and provide some meaningful impetus to the non-yielding yellow metal.

In the meantime, traders have been pricing in the possibility that the Fed will cut interest rates several times this year amid concerns about a tariff-driven US economic slowdown and signs of a cooling US labor markets. This, along with persistent worries about US President Donald Trump, a global trade war, and its impact on the world economy, continues to act as a tailwind for the safe-haven Gold prices. The lack of any meaningful buying, however, warrants some caution for aggressive bullish traders. 

Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold price traders await US CPI before placing fresh directional bets

• US President Donald Trump upped the ante in a trade war and said on Tuesday that he would double planned tariff increases on steel and aluminum coming from Canada to 50%, providing a strong boost to the safe-haven Gold price. Trump, however, reversed course in response to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's announcement to suspend a 25% surcharge on electricity sold to the US.
• The lower house of Congress narrowly passed a Republican spending bill that would avoid a government shutdown on March 14 and keep the US government open until September, further boosting investors' confidence. The bill now heads to the Senate and will need the support of at least seven Democrats to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold before sending it to Trump for his signature. 
• Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal for an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire with Russia after bilateral talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The US would now take the offer to Russia, which has not yet responded to the proposal. The development, however, remains supportive of a turnaround in the global risk sentiment and might act as a headwind for the precious metal. 
• Over the weekend, Trump declined to rule out the possibility of a recession in the US and flagged some economic turbulence on the back of his policy agenda. This, along with signs of a cooling US labor market, continues to fuel speculations that the Federal Reserve would soon resume its rate-cutting cycle. In fact, traders are pricing in three rate cuts of 25 basis points each by the end of this year. 
• This might keep a lid on any meaningful US Dollar recovery from its lowest level since mid-October touched on Tuesday and favors the XAU/USD bulls. Traders, however, might opt to wait on the sidelines and look forward to the crucial US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which might influence the Fed's rate-cut path and provide some meaningful impetus to the non-yielding yellow metal. 

Gold price could aim to challenge the all-time top once the $2,928-2,930 hurdle is cleared decisively

From a technical perspective, bulls might need to wait for a move beyond the $2,928-2,930 hurdle before positioning for further gains. The subsequent move up has the potential to lift the Gold price back towards the all-time peak, around the $2,956 area touched on February 24. Some follow-through buying will be seen as a fresh trigger for bulls and pave the way for the resumption of the recent well-established uptrend amid still positive oscillators on the daily chart.

On the flip side, weakness below the $2,900 mark might now find some support near the $2,880 region, or the weekly low. This is followed by the $2,860 region, below which the Gold price could accelerate the slide towards the late February swing low, around the $2,833-2,832 region, before eventually dropping to the $2,800 mark.