May’s U.S. consumer price index (CPI) came in lower than expected, showing that inflation may be cooling off. The gold price used to surge to $1,970, and then the traders liquidated their position. The gold price dropped below $1,950 since the market awaits the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision. Investors will look for clues on the Fed's interest rate hikes and monetary tightening plans. If the Fed signals a more aggressive tightening path, it could boost the dollar and bond yields, weighing on gold.
Gold prices fell after the lower-than-expected CPI print but remain supported by longer-term inflation fears, geopolitical risks, and a wait-and-see approach ahead of the FOMC meeting. This week, the Fed’s tone, signals and the coming up U.S. data will be necessary for determining gold's next move.