Wash speech imminent, gold price almost unchanged.

Federal Reserve Chairman Powell will deliver his first public speech on Wednesday evening, before that, gold futures are basically flat. Analysts at Shengbao Bank said, "Traders will closely watch Powell's remarks for clues on inflation prospects and how policymakers balance still-high price pressures with signs of slowing economic growth and a gradually weakening labor market." New York gold futures fell 0.1% in after-hours trading to $4,348.20 per ounce, but are still up 1.5% for the week, benefiting from a sharp drop in oil prices and easing concerns about inflation and rate hikes.