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Gold prices lukewarm as traders look for more US data

Gold rates traded flat in early Asian trade hours on Thursday, within close quarters of recordhigh levels on a broadly weaker dollar, as traders awaited more economic information that might steer expect a midyear rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

PRINCIPLES

* Area gold was flat at $2,173.89 per ounce, since 0147 GMT. U.S. gold futures dipped 0.1% to $2,178.20.

* The Fed is anticipated to hold rates consistent at its policy satisfying next week, however the focus will be on the 'dot plot' forecasts. The U.S. reserve bank in its December meeting pencilled three-quarter-point rate cuts for 2024.

* Financiers will take a look at the U.S. retail sales data, the producer prices index (PPI) report and jobless claims due later on in the day to assess the U.S. economy's health and if it will hinder the Fed from cutting rates in June.

* Traders see a 67% opportunity of a June rate cut, according to LSEG's rates of interest likelihood app, down from 72% before information revealed U.S. customer costs increased slightly above market expectations in February, recommending some stickiness in inflation. Possibilities for a July rate cut stand at 83%.

* The U.S. dollar index steadied after reversing all gains that were made on the back of a strong inflation data on Wednesday. 10-year Treasury yields were constant at 4.1899% after rising by 4.5 bps in the previous session.

* SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, stated its holdings rose 0.21% to 816.86 tonnes on Wednesday from 815.13 tonnes on Tuesday.

* Area platinum increased 0.4% to $942.05 per ounce, palladium got 0.1% to $1,060.25 and silver was steady at $25.05, after hitting a more than four-month high earlier in the session.

(source: Reuters)