Gold prices trimmed part of their modest intraday gains on Monday, trading with a slight positive bias below the psychological $3,900 level during the early European session. The US Dollar (USD) attracted fresh selling pressure amid optimism over a potential diplomatic breakthrough to end the US-Iran war, providing some support for the precious metal. However, persistent expectations of further Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate hikes, fueled by energy-driven inflation concerns, continued to weigh on non-yielding Gold, keeping prices near their lowest level since October 2025, reached on Friday.
Friday's decisive break and close below the key $4,000 psychological threshold triggered additional selling pressure. Furthermore, Gold remains well below the 100-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the four-hour chart, reinforcing the bearish short-term outlook.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator remains in negative territory, with the MACD line below the signal line and the histogram showing limited momentum. Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 28.94, indicating oversold conditions. This suggests that although selling pressure remains dominant, the latest decline may have become excessive in the short term, potentially leaving room for a technical rebound.
Nevertheless, any further recovery in Gold prices could attract fresh sellers. The 100-period EMA at $4,068.55 represents a key resistance level that buyers must reclaim to ease the current bearish bias. On the downside, traders are closely watching Friday's swing low near $3,870 as a potential demand zone. A decisive break below this support could accelerate the established downward trend and expose Gold to further losses.
US-Iran Diplomacy Supports Gold, but Risks Remain
Iranian negotiators reportedly held discussions with Qatari mediators for the third consecutive day on Sunday in an effort to advance an agreement to end the US-Israeli war against Iran.
In a related development, Iran proposed a 48-hour plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, subject to Washington meeting several conditions. These reportedly include lifting sanctions imposed following the Islamabad memorandum and reducing the US military presence in the region.
US President Donald Trump also stated that negotiations with Iran were progressing well and suggested that Tehran wanted to reach an agreement.
However, Trump did not rule out further military action after the November 3 midterm elections. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly instructed senior military commanders to prepare for a potential renewed confrontation with the United States and Israel while expanding Tehran's retaliation options.
These developments, combined with fresh Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, have kept geopolitical risk premiums elevated. Uncertainty surrounding the Middle East continues to influence market sentiment and leaves the US Dollar vulnerable to further selling pressure.
Although a weaker dollar can support Gold by making the metal cheaper for holders of other currencies, persistent geopolitical uncertainty complicates the outlook. Consequently, traders should remain cautious before assuming that Gold can sustain a meaningful recovery.
Fed Rate Hike Bets Limit Gold Recovery
Meanwhile, US macroeconomic data released last Thursday pointed to resilient economic growth and persistent price pressures, strengthening expectations of further monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve.
According to the CME Group FedWatch Tool, traders are currently pricing in approximately a 75% probability that the US central bank will raise borrowing costs again in December.
Higher interest rates generally weigh on Gold because the non-yielding metal becomes less attractive compared with interest-bearing assets. This dynamic could limit the upside potential for XAU/USD, even as a weaker US Dollar provides some near-term support.
Against this backdrop, Gold needs strong follow-through buying to establish a sustainable short-term bottom. Without a convincing recovery, the precious metal remains vulnerable to renewed selling pressure.
Key US Economic Data in Focus
Market participants are now turning their attention to several important US economic releases scheduled for the beginning of November.
The US ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is due later on Monday, followed by the ISM Services PMI on Wednesday. Investors will then focus on Friday's closely watched US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report for fresh clues about labor market conditions and the Federal Reserve's next policy move.
Stronger-than-expected economic data could reinforce expectations of another Fed rate hike, potentially supporting the US Dollar and placing additional pressure on Gold prices. Conversely, weaker figures could ease monetary tightening concerns and provide the precious metal with room to recover.
Overall, the combination of elevated interest rate expectations, geopolitical uncertainty, and bearish technical indicators suggests that Gold's recovery attempts may attract renewed selling interest. Unless buyers reclaim key resistance levels, the short-term outlook for Gold remains bearish, with the $3,870 area emerging as an important support zone to watch.



