Gold Pulls Back from 3-Week High as Hawkish Fed Rhetoric Boosts US Dollar

Gold prices retreated by 1.24% to $5,160, pulling back from a three-week high of $5,249 reached earlier in the session. This reversal was primarily driven by hawkish rhetoric from Federal Reserve officials, which bolstered the US Dollar and exerted downward pressure on the precious metal. While trade tensions surrounding President Trump's tariff policies initially spurred safe-haven demand, the market focus has shifted toward the trajectory of US monetary policy. Investors are currently reassessing interest rate expectations as the Fed signals a commitment to maintaining a firm stance against inflation. The recovery in the US Dollar has also weighed on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD, complicating the economic landscape already impacted by recent judicial rulings. Market participants remain cautious, balancing the risks of global trade disputes against the potential for higher-for-longer interest rates.