Gold Price Analysis: After Fed Chair Powell's hawkish comments, the XAU/USD pair is in the red

Gold is nursing its wounds due to the likelihood of a 50 basis point (bps) rate rise by the Federal Reserve. At the time of writing, Gold price is trading at $1,813.53 and has been probing lower in Asia to $1,1812.60, a fresh low made following the sell-off that transpired in response to Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's testimony before Congress on Tuesday.

The price of gold fell sharply as a result of Fed Chair Powell's remarks, falling from a high of $1,851.70 to a low of $1,1812.36 like a heavily weighted metal. This is a result of Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve, stating that the US central bank will remain on course until the job is completed. He added more fuel to the fire by stating that the ultimate level of interest rates is likely to be higher than previously predicted.

The clincher was when Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell stated that the Fed is prepared to increase the tempo of rate increases if data indicates it is warranted.

"The most recent economic data have been greater than anticipated, indicating that the ultimate level of interest rates will likely be higher than anticipated. "Powell of the Fed stated in his testimony.

As a result, the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note rose to 4% before retreating to 3.96%, remaining marginally below the three-month high of 4.07% reached on March 2 as investors weighed the path of future rate increases by the Federal Reserve. This provided a stimulus to the dollar. The DXY index, a measure of the US Dollar versus a basket of currencies, smashed through 105 in a move that began at 104.43 and continued until 105.435, putting significant downward pressure on the price of Gold.