Interest rate futures tied to the Fed's policy rate priced in a more than even chance of tightening at the November or December meetings after Powell's speech.
The dollar index was below two-month highs while a rally that took U.S. Treasury yields to nearly 16-year highs paused, giving respite to the non-yielding gold.
The U.S. dollar has eased from recent highs and allowing gold to make a modest move higher. Likely some bargain hunting happening for gold at these levels.