TOKYO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Gold prices were steady on Wednesday
after hitting their highest level in almost two weeks the
previous day, with investors cautiously awaiting U.S. jobs data
later this week to gauge prospects for the U.S. economy and the
dollar.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold <XAU=> inched up 0.1 percent to $1,114.65 per
ounce at 2346 GMT compared to New York's notional close of
$1,113.95.
* On Tuesday it hit a high of $1,117.95, the highest since
Jan. 20
* U.S. gold futures for April delivery <GCJ0> were down 0.2
percent at $1,115.8 an ounce after rising $13 on Tuesday on the
COMEX division of NYMEX.
* The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR
Gold Trust <GLD>, said its holdings stood at 1,111.922 tonnes as
of Feb. 2, unchanged since Jan. 19. []
* Turkey imported 60 kg of gold in January, figures from the
Istanbul Gold Exchange showed on Tuesday, up from 30 kg in
December and zero in January 2009. []
MARKET NEWS
* The dollar slipped from six-month highs against a basket of
currencies on Wednesday, as investors picked up bargains in
beaten down growth-linked currencies with risk appetite showing
some signs of recovering. []
* U.S. stocks rallied for a second day on Tuesday as
better-than-expected earnings and encouraging data calmed
investors after the market's recent sell-off. []
* Societe Generale said in a report late on Monday it sees
platinum at an average $1,565 in 2010, with further gains capped
in part by weakness in jewelery demand.
DATA EVENTS
* The following data is expected on Wedneday: <ECON>
- Australia Dec balance of goods and services (0030 GMT)
- Euro zone final services PMI, Jan (0858 GMT)
- UK CIP services PMI, Jan (0928 GMT)
- Euro zone retail sales, Dec (1000 GMT)
- Weekly U.S. mortgage market index (1200 GMT)
- Challenger U.S. job cuts for Jan (1230 GMT)
- U.S. ADP employment report for Jan (1315 GMT)
- U.S. Treasury quarterly refunding details (1400 GMT)
- U.S. ISM non-manufacturing for Jan (1500 GMT)
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner testifies (1500 GMT)
RELATED NEWS
> US data, dlr, drive biggest gains since early Jan []
> Brazil mineral search perks up in 2010-official[]
> DRC mulls new laws for gemstone mining-minister[]
> S.Africa mines nationalisation not policy []
> S.Africa mines to be hit by Eskom hikes-Anglo []
> Ethiopia to pass laws to boost mining by mid yr []
> TAKE-A-LOOK-'U.S. auto sales for January []
PRICES
Precious metals prices at 2338 GMT
Metal Last Change Pct chg 2 day chg MA 30 RSI
Spot gold $1114.75 -$13.20 -1.17% -3.73% $1112.43 58
Spot silver $18.28 $0.04 +0.22% +0.55% $17.54 38
Spot plat $1574.00 $5.50 +0.35% +1.68% $1539.04 61
COMEX gold $1116.00 $1.30 +0.12% +1.04% $1113.44 59
TOCOM gold 3,318 89 +2.76% +5.67% 3,275 53
TOCOM plat 4,608 110 +2.45% +5.35% 4,528 54
Currencies
Euro/dlr $1.397 $0.001 +0.09% +0.32%
Dlr/yen 90.43 0.04 +0.04% -0.21%
TOCOM prices in yen per gram. Spot prices in $ per ounce.
(Reporting by Risa Maeda; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
