• Gold rebounds sharply as dip buyers return amid escalating Middle East tensions.
• Rising oil prices and higher inflation expectations reinforce bullion's safe-haven appeal.
• Stronger Dollar and higher yields fail to deter aggressive Gold buyers.

Gold (XAU/USD) price rallies over 3% on Friday as dip buyers emerge, amid the conflict entering its fifth week of hostilities, with no signs of de-escalation, and as inflation pressures rise. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades at $4,510 after bouncing off daily lows of $4,375.

Heightened geopolitical tensions underpin Gold, Oil and the US Dollar

Market sentiment remains dismal as US equities fall to 7-month lows. The rise in US Treasury bond yields and broad US Dollar strength has not been an excuse for bullion buyers, who are driving prices higher amid growing uncertainty over the Middle East conflict.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the buck's performance against six peers, is up 0.30% to 100.16, underpinned by the rise in US yields. The US 10-year T-note is up nearly two basis points at 4.428%.

Over the last two days, geopolitical headlines have been driving price action. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump calmed the markets, delaying the pause on attacks on Iranian energy installations until April 6, prolonging the pause by an extra day early on Friday (check).

Nevertheless, the White House is sending mixed signals as the Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon is deploying an additional 10,000 troops to the region.

As a result, investors ignored Trump's attempt to de-escalate the conflict, as evidenced by soaring energy prices, with WTI rallying nearly 5% to $98.33 per barrel.

Recently, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that the Strait of Hormuz is closed.

US economic data

Data-wise, the University of Michigan revealed that American households are turning pessimistic about economic conditions. The Consumer Sentiment in March dipped from 55.5 to 53.3, below forecasts of 54. Inflation expectations for the next twelve months jumped from 3.4% in February to 3.8%, while for the five years remained unchanged at 3.2%.

Money markets now expect the Federal Reserve's (Fed) next move to be a rate hike, given the current scenario of high energy prices. So far, traders have priced in six basis points of tightening towards the year-end, as revealed b Prime Market Terminal.

Fed's Barkin says "prudent to hold rates," Paulson stays neutral

Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin favors holding rates to await more clarity on the next move. He said the rapid progress in AI has clouded the economic outlook, while adding that, before the Oil shock, inflation had already stalled.

Recently, Philadelphia Fed Anna Paulson showed a neutral stance, saying that the labor market feels "fragile." Paulson added that the Iran war puts pressure on the dual mandate, and that "inflation levels are still too high."

XAU/USD technical outlook: Gold rally capped ahead of the 100-day SMA

Gold price consolidates on Friday, unable to clear key resistance around $4,560, which could open the door to further upside. It should be noted that momentum remains bearish, as indicated by the Relative Strength Index (RSI), but the index broke a previous peak, suggesting sellers are losing steam.

If XAU/USD rises past the Thursday high of $4,544, this could open the path to challenge the 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $4,605, which is seen as the next area of interest. Up next lies the March 20 daily high at $4,736, followed by $4,800.

On the downside, if Gold closes daily below $4,500, the next support would be the March 24 daily low at $4,306, followed by the March 23 swing low at $4,098.