PRECIOUS-Gold up around $905, ETF dips another notch

                                
 TOKYO, April 24 (Reuters) - Gold edged up to around $905 on
Friday, extending gains after rallying to a three-week high the
previous day, while holdings for the world's biggest gold-backed
exchange-traded fund dipped further away from a record high.
                                
 FUNDAMENTALS
                                
 * Gold <XAU=> was at $905.50 per ounce at 0018 GMT, up 0.4
percent from New York's notional close of $902.0
                                
 * The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, the
SPDR Gold Trust <GLD>, said holdings fell to 1,104.45 tonnes as
of April 23, down 1.53 tonnes or 0.1 percent from the previous
day. [GOL/SPDR]
                                
 MARKET NEWS
                                
 * Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.7 percent on Friday.
[.T]
                                
 * The euro rallied broadly on Thursday as encouraging news
about the European economy and banking system sparked hope that
the 16-country euro zone may be emerging from the depths of
recession. [USD/]
                                
 * U.S. stocks rose in volatile trade on Thursday as
better-than-expected results from several regional banks lifted
financial shares, overshadowing disappointing economic data. [.N]
                                
 * Oil rose on Thursday as a fall in the dollar and stock
market gains outweighed rising U.S. inventories. [O/R]
                                
 DATA EVENTS
                                
 * The following data is expected on Friday: <ECON>
                                
 - UK preliminary Q1 GDP                   (0830 GMT)
                                
 - U.S. bank regulators release stress test details
                                
 - IMF press briefing in Washington        (1215 GMT)
                                
 - IMF press briefing in Washington        (1300 GMT)
                                
 - IMF press briefing in Washington        (1430 GMT)
                                
 - IMF press briefing in Washington        (1600 GMT)
                                
 - IMF press briefing in Washington        (1730 GMT)
                                
 - UK's Darling speaks in Washington       (1230 GMT)
                                
 - U.S. March durable goods                (1230 GMT)
                                
 - U.S. March new home sales               (1400 GMT)
                                
 - G7 Central bankers meet in Washington   (1730 GMT)
                                
 - U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner speaks (2030 GMT)
                                
 - WTO's Lamy speaks in Washington         (2300 GMT)
                                
 RELATED NEWS
 > Gold climbs above $900 on fund buying, weak dollar      [GOL/]
 > Gold above $900, leading broad rally; copper down   [COM/WRAP]
 > Gold-backed ETF inflows at 456 T in Q1-WGC       [ID:LN678681]
 > Gold miners could surprise on costs - RBC      [ID:nN23336777]
 > Platinum demand set to fall further in '09-GFMS [ID:nLN957570]
                                
 PRICES
                                
 Precious metals prices at 0012GMT
  Metal         Last      Change  Pct chg  Day ago pct  MA 30 RSI
 Spot gold     $905.05   $10.05  +1.12%    +0.90%    $860.10  63
 Spot silver    $12.76   -$0.07  -0.55%    +6.51%     $11.29  61
 Spot plat    $1178.00  $190.00 +19.23%   +17.86%    $961.97  51
 COMEX gold    $892.00   -$0.30  -0.03%    -2.39%    $872.79  59
 TOCOM gold      2,857      201  +7.57%    +6.25%      2,529  54
 TOCOM plat      3,722      811 +27.86%   +29.42%      2,759  45
 Currencies
 Euro/dlr       $1.312   $0.011  +0.87%    +1.25%
 Dlr/yen         97.78     6.32  +6.91%    +6.49%
 TOCOM prices in yen per gram, except TOCOM silver which is
priced in yen per 10 grams.  Spot prices in $ per ounce.
 (Reporting by Miho Yoshikawa; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)