Gold slips from two-week peak as US Dollar firms, Fed turmoil in focus

• Gold retreats on Wednesday after peaking at a two-week high of $3,394, pressured by a stronger US Dollar.
• Political uncertainty deepens as Trump pushes to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook.
• Light economic calendar in the US turns focus to Thursday's Initial Jobless Claims and Friday's core PCE inflation.

Gold (XAU/USD) is trading on the back foot on Wednesday as the US Dollar (USD) regains strength and edges higher, despite political turmoil surrounding US President Donald Trump's attempt to oust Federal Reserve (Fed) Governor Lisa Cook.

At the time of writing, XAU/USD is holding near $3,380 at the start of the American session, after briefly slipping to around $3,373 during Asian hours. The move reflects modest profit-taking after climbing to a fresh two-week high. Still, the downside remains cushioned as markets weigh the uncertainty over the Fed's independence and the dovish tilt in Fed Chair Jerome Powell's remarks at Jackson Hole, where he hinted that conditions "may warrant" interest rate cuts in the near term.

Amid growing pressure on the central bank, Trump's push to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook appears less about disputed mortgage-fraud allegations and more about reshaping monetary policy to suit his political objectives. On Tuesday, he declared that he expects to soon command a "majority" on the Fed's Board of Governors, a shift that could tilt the institution toward more aggressive rate cuts. Cook, however, has refused to resign and is preparing to challenge the move in court, setting up a legal battle that could test the limits of presidential power over the Fed.

Market movers: US Dollar edges higher, yields diverge, Fed independence under spotlight

• The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the Greenback against a basket of six major currencies, is advancing on Wednesday after a minor setback the previous day. At the time of writing, the index is hovering near 98.65, reclaiming lost ground and signaling renewed US Dollar strength.
• US Treasury yields are showing a mixed picture on Wednesday. The 2-year yield plunged to 3.66%, its lowest since early May, as markets price in higher odds of near-term Fed interest rate cuts. The 10-year yield steadies, hovering around 4.27% after coming under pressure from renewed concerns over the Fed's independence. Meanwhile, the 30-year yield remains elevated near 4.92%, reflecting lingering inflation worries and broader caution over the long-term policy outlook.
• The Federal Reserve, for its part, has pushed back firmly, stating that Governor Cook's status remains unchanged unless a court rules otherwise. In a statement, the central bank underscored that governors serve fixed 14-year terms and can only be removed "for cause," describing tenure protections as a vital safeguard for monetary policy independence. With Cook vowing to sue and the Fed standing its ground, markets now face the prospect of a prolonged legal and political standoff. For Gold, this tug-of-war reinforces its safe-haven appeal, as investors hedge against both institutional uncertainty and the risk of deeper political interference in the monetary policy. According to CNBC, Cook's lawsuit could be filed as soon as this Wednesday.
• On the trade front, US tariffs on Indian imports doubled to 50% on Wednesday after a new 25% levy took effect, targeting a wide range of goods -- from textiles and footwear to jewelry and chemicals. The move, aimed at pressuring New Delhi over its continued purchases of discounted Russian Oil, puts nearly half of India's $87 billion in annual exports to the US at a sharp competitive disadvantage.
• The European Union (EU) is preparing to propose removing tariffs on US industrial goods this week to meet US President Trump's demands, according to Bloomberg. In return, Washington is expected to lower auto tariffs on EU vehicles from 27.5% to 15%, potentially backdated to August 1. The proposal would also expand access for American seafood and agricultural goods, aiming to ease escalating trade tensions between the two economies.
• On the economic data front, US releases painted a mixed picture on Tuesday. Durable Goods Orders fell 2.8% in July on weaker aircraft bookings, but Durable Goods Orders ex Transportation rose 1.1%, showing underlying resilience. Meanwhile, the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index slipped to 97.4 in August from 98.7, with the expectations gauge dropping below the 80 threshold that often signals recession risks.
• Wednesday's calendar is relatively light, keeping markets in a consolidative mood. Traders are looking ahead to Thursday's weekly US Initial Jobless Claims for fresh signals on the labor market, followed by Friday's US core Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) inflation report -- the Fed's preferred gauge -- which is expected to be the week's key event risk.

Technical analysis: XAU/USD slips from two-week peak, bullish structure intact

XAU/USD is edging lower on Wednesday after hitting a fresh two-week high at $3,394, with buyers seen unwinding long positions ahead of the key $3,400 psychological barrier. The retreat reflects mild profit booking, as sellers re-emerged near resistance to cap further upside momentum.

On the downside, immediate support is aligned between the 21-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $3,370 and the 100-period SMA at $3,358, making this confluence zone around $3,370-$3,350 a crucial floor for near-term price action. As long as Gold holds above this area, the broader bullish structure remains intact. However, a decisive break lower would expose the $3,340 level, followed by the next support at $3,320.

Momentum indicators remain constructive but show signs of moderation. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has eased to 55, slipping from near overbought territory, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) still trades above the signal line but with narrowing histogram bars, signaling fading upside momentum.