Gold price steadies on US political uncertainty

• Gold price edges higher on uncertainty over US presidential elections.
• US President Biden withdraws the re-election bid and nominates Kamala Harris to lead the Democrats.
• The US Dollar edges lower ahead of US data-packed week

Gold price (XAU/USD) gains ground near key support of $2,400 in Monday’s European session. The precious finds cushion as the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris to lead Democrats against Donald Trump-led-Republicans has deepened United States (US) political uncertainty. The withdrawal of US President Joe Biden from the re-election bid paved the way for Kamala Harris as the nominee of Democrats.

This has also stalled upside in the US Dollar (USD). The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, slightly retraces to 104.20 on Monday after a strong recovery from a four-month low of 103.65. Earlier, higher odds of Trump's win in presidential elections fueled a recovery in the US Dollar. Market experts saw Trump’s victory as favorable for economic growth as he has promised cuts in corporate taxes and interest rates. This has fuelled upside risks to consumer inflation expectations. Experts also expect further trade restrictions if Republicans enter the White House. The prospects of Donald Trump winning elections grew after an assassination attack on him.

Meanwhile,10-year US Treasury yields decline to 4.22%. Lower yields on interest-bearing assets reduce the opportunity cost of investing in non-yielding assets, such as Gold. 

Daily digest market movers: Gold price steadies as US Dollar, bond yields fall

• Gold price finds temporary support near $2,400 after declining consecutively for three trading days, with the focus on US data-packed week. The economic data will provide fresh cues about when the Federal Reserve (Fed) will start reducing interest rates this year. 
• This week, investors will focus on the preliminary S&P Global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for July, Q2 Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the Durable Goods Orders and Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index (PCE) for June. According to the estimates, advanced PMI expanded at a slower pace than the previous month. Meanwhile, the GDP is expected to expand at a strong pace of 2.0% on an annualized basis from the former release of 1.4%.
• Investors will keenly focus on the core PCE inflation data, which is the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. On a monthly basis, the inflation measure is estimated to have grown at a faster pace of 0.2% from the former reading of 0.1%.
• Currently, financial markets expect the Fed to begin lowering its key borrowing rates in September and deliver two rate cuts this year against one projected by policymakers in the latest dot plot.
• Recently, the confidence of Fed officials that inflation has returned on its path to 2% has increased. June’s inflation readings showed that price pressures grew at a slower-than-expected pace. Also, monthly headline inflation deflated for the first time in more than four years. 

Technical Analysis: Gold price gains ground near $2,400

Gold price trades in a tight range near $2,400 on Monday. The precious metal declines to near the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which trades around $2,390, and suggests that the near-term outlook has not weakened yet technically. 

Advancing trendline plotted from the February 14 low at $1,984.30 will be a major support for Gold bulls. 

The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) drops inside the 40.00-60.00 range, suggesting that the upside momentum has stalled. However, the upside bias remains intact.

A fresh upside would appear if the Gold price breaks above the all-time-high around $2,480.