Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD attracts some buyers to near $2,700, traders brace for Fed rate decision

• Gold price rebounds to around $2,690 in Friday’s Asian session, adding 42% on the day. 
• Gold demand and geopolitical risks could support the Gold price. 
• The cautious stance of the Fed due to Trump tariff policies might put pressure on the USD-denominated Gold. 

Gold price (XAU/USD) recovers some lost ground to around $2,690 during the Asian trading hours on Friday after retreating from a five-week high in the previous session. All eyes will be on the US Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate decision next week.

Gold buying by central banks, including the People's Bank of China (PBoC) could provide some support on the yellow metal. The Chinese central bank resumed gold purchases in November after a six-month hiatus, increasing its reserves to 72.96 million fine troy ounces. This move comes as Beijing signals a shift to an “appropriately loose” monetary policy, with plans for a more proactive fiscal approach in 2024. Goldman Sachs analysts noted that the People's Bank of China (PBoC) “may even increase Gold demand during periods of local currency weakness to boost confidence in their currency.”  

Additionally, the escalating tensions in the Middle East might boost the safe-haven demand flows, benefiting the precious metal. Reuters reported that an Israeli strike killed at least 30 Palestinians and wounded 50 others who were sheltering in a post office in the central Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll on Thursday in the enclave to 66.

On the other hand, the speculations that US President-elect Donald Trump's tariff policies might prompt inflation might convince the Fed to adopt a more cautious stance on cutting interest rates. This, in turn, could act as a headwind for non-yielding assets like gold. According to CME Group's FedWatch Tool, traders are now pricing in a nearly 96.4% chance that the Fed will reduce its rate by 25 basis points (bps) rate cut at the December meeting.