Gold backs off 3-month high, dollar rebounds from 3-week trough

Gold futures tilted lower in Asian trade away from July 17 highs, as the dollar index climbed off September 27 lows for another session, ahead of US housing data later today. 

As of 04:25 GMT, gold futures due in December fell 0.47% to $1,225.20 an ounce away from three-month highs, while the dollar index inched up 0.12% to 95.17 away from three-week lows. 

Now investors await US housing starts data, expected to have fallen 5.6% to 1.210 million units, while building permits are expected with a 2.1% increase to 1.275 million. 

Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard will deliver a speech titled "Fintech and Financial Inclusion" at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's Fintech conference, while the Fed is slated to release its minutes for the September 25-26 meeting. 

The Federal Open Market Committee voted last month to increase borrowing rates for the third time this year by 25 basis points to below 2.25% as expected by analysts back then. 

The Fed forecast another rate hike this year, and three more next year, and another in 2020, as the economy blisters ahead. 

US President Donald Trump accused the Federal Reserve of causing a sharp correction in markets with its interest rate policy, considering it too strict and a "mistake". 

In a recent Pennsylvania rally, Trump said the Federal Reserve has gone "crazy" with its latest rate hikes, while noting that stocks are undergoing a normal correction after a succession of record highs. 

Otherwise, International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde expressed her support for China's moves to maintain the flexibility of its exchange rate, while noting the Fed's decisions shouldn't be considered "crazy". 

On Sunday, the People's Bank of China cut reserve requirements for Chinese banks for the fourth time this year amid attempts to ease policies and bolster spending. 

The IMF cut its forecasts for global growth for this year and the next for the first time in two years, with US and Chinese economies the most important downgrades alongside the euro zone due to rising trade protectionism.