XAUUSD Accumulation or Distribution Range for Gold?Gold vs US DollarFUSIONMARKETS:XAUUSDfxtraderanthonyThe macro narrative heading into this week is dominated by a major shift in risk sentiment and a packed central bank calendar, featuring the crucial Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting 🏦. The recent announcement of a signed US-Iran peace deal has defused intense geopolitical safe-haven premiums and triggered a sharp collapse in crude oil prices, which has paradoxically softened the US Dollar due to easing energy-driven inflation expectations. Market chatter suggests that while institutional players maintain a highly constructive long-term view toward year-end targets, general online retail communities are leaning heavily cautious, treating the recent bounce past $4,300 with deep skepticism. This indicates a highly crowded retail short sentiment near the current range highs, leaving the market ripe for a potential liquidity hunt before the real directional expansion takes place. We are seeing a clear compression phase on the 30-minute chart of the file named "image_3d65a1.png" as price moves into a strict sideways range 📈. Applying Auction Market Theory and Dow Theory logic, the market is currently in a state of short-term Balance following a sharp corrective markdown earlier in the month. Widespread community chatter is aggressively calling for a continuation of the broader bearish trend, but this tells me retail is likely being trapped inside this range as late shorters bunch their protective buy stops just above the local resistance boundaries.