Gold trades with modest losses, still above $1500 mark

Gold prices edged lower for the second consecutive session on Monday, albeit managed to hold its neck above the key $1500 psychological mark.
 
A further improvement in the global risk sentiment - as depicted by a strong rally across equity markets - dented demand for traditional safe-haven assets and turned out to be one of the key factors exerting some downward pressure on the precious metal.

Focus on US-China trade/Fed’s policy outlook

However, a combination of supporting factors - including mounting concerns about slowing global economic growth and uncertainty over a possible resolution to the prolonged US-China trade disputes - helped limit any meaningful corrective slide.
 
Traders might also refrain from positioning for any deeper losses, rather preferred to stay on the sidelines ahead of Wednesday’s release of the FOMC meeting minutes and the Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the key Jackson Hole Symposium on Friday.
 
The FOMC minutes and Powell's remarks will be closely scrutinized for a fresh insight over the central bank's near-term monetary policy outlook, which will play an important role in determining the next leg of a directional move for the non-yielding yellow metal.
 
In the meantime, a subdued US Dollar price action seems unlikely to influence the demand for the dollar-denominated commodity amid absent relevant market-moving US economic releases on the first trading day of a new week.

Technical levels to watch