© Reuters.

Investing.com– Gold prices steadied on Tuesday after tumbling sharply over the past week as a rally in the dollar paused for breath, with markets now watching for the yellow metal to potentially test a key support level.

The near-term outlook for gold remained marred by persistent concerns over higher-for-longer U.S. interest rates, especially as markets began pricing the possibility that the Federal Reserve will keep rates static until June. 

Strong U.S. economic data and hawkish comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell were the key drivers of this notion, with both factors triggering sharp declines in gold prices over the past two sessions.

The rallied to a near three-month high, while U.S. Treasury yields also appreciated sharply in the face of higher-for-longer rates, which further pressured gold.

steadied at $2,026.33 an ounce, while expiring in April were flat at $2,042.40 an ounce by 00:23 ET (05:23 GMT). 

$2,000 support in focus as rate fears increase 

Several analysts said that spot gold prices were likely to test the $2,000 an ounce level in the coming days, especially if there was little change in the outlook for U.S. interest rates. 

The showed traders pricing in an 83% chance the Fed will keep rates steady in March, and were steadily dialing up bets for a similar move in May. 

Gold had briefly tested the $2,000 an ounce level earlier in January, but had just stopped shy of breaking below the support. Any moves below $2,000 could herald deeper losses in bullion prices, especially in the face of higher-for-longer U.S. rates.

next week is expected to act as a key pivot point for prices, while several Fed officials are also set to speak this week.

Higher-for-longer U.S. rates diminish gold’s appeal by increasing the opportunity cost of investing in the yellow metal. 

Copper rises as traders weigh China woes 

Among industrial metals, copper prices rose on Tuesday after logging four straight sessions of losses, as markets digested more weak economic signals from China.

expiring in March rose 0.5% to $3.7920 a pound, after losing more than $1 in the past four sessions.

Prices were hit chiefly by a string of weak purchasing managers index readings from China, which is the world’s largest copper importer. The readings showed little recovery in business activity in January, particularly in the key .

Focus this week is now on for January, due on Thursday. The reading also comes a day before the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.