Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD edges higher above $2,650 as traders brace for Chinese PMI data

• Gold price drifts higher to $2,665 in Monday’s early Asian session. 
• Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Fed rate cuts support the Gold price. 
• Investors await the Chinese PMI, which is due on Monday. 

Gold price (XAU/USD) recovers to near $2,665 during the early Asian session on Monday. The geopolitical risks and firmer expectation of another oversized interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve (Fed) in November lift the precious metal. 

Israel continues to launch airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, killing more than 100 people and wounding over 350 others Sunday, per CNN. Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has fuelled tensions in the Middle East and escalated the conflict along the border with Lebanon, which might boost the safe-have flows, benefiting the Gold price. 

Data released by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on Friday showed the headline Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index rose by 2.2% year-over-year in August, compared to 2.5% in July, softer than the expectations of 2.3%. Meanwhile, the core PCE jumped 2.7% over the same period, matching market estimations. On a monthly basis, the PCE Price Index increased by 0.1%, aligning with analysts' predictions.

The PCE data provided the latest sign that price pressures are easing in the US and triggered the expectation that the Fed will further cut the interest rate this year. A rate cut by the US Fed is likely to boost the appeal of the non-interest-bearing Gold price. 

Gold traders will monitor the Chinese Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for fresh impetus. The NBS Manufacturing PMI is expected to improve to 49.5 in September from 49.1, while the Services PMI is estimated to rise to 50.4 in September from 50.3 in the previous reading. The weaker-than-expected data might weigh on the yellow metal as China's largest gold importer.