Gold inches higher as investors focus on US inflation data
US consumer sentiment fell for a fourth straight month in November, and households' expectations for inflation rose again, a survey showed on Friday.
Gold prices edged higher on Monday as investors look forward to U.S. inflation data after hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell pushed bullion to a more than three-week low last week.
Fundamentals:
* Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,939.19 per ounce, as of 0102 GMT, after slipping to its lowest since Oct. 18 on Friday. US gold futures gained 0.3% to $1,943.40.
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* Gold fell 2.8% last week to register its worst week in more than a month as Powell's hawkish remarks pushed back any notion about interest rate cuts.
* Higher interest rates raise the opportunity cost of holding gold.
* US consumer sentiment fell for a fourth straight month in November, and households' expectations for inflation rose again, a survey showed on Friday.
* Focus this week will be on US consumer prices index (CPI) data due on Tuesday that could influence the Fed's interest rate outlook.
* Core CPI month-over-month is expected to have risen 0.3% in October, with a year-over-year increase of 4.1%, a Reuters poll showed. Both estimated gains are the same as in September.
* The dollar was up 0.1% against its rivals after hitting a one-week high in the previous session, making bullion less attractive for other currency holders.
* SPDR Gold Trust GLD, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.10% to 868.14 tonnes on Friday from 867.28 tonnes on Thursday.
* Gold demand improved in India last week due to a key festival, but early reports suggested purchases were slightly lower compared with last year as higher prices put off some customers.
* Spot silver rose 0.3% to $22.68 per ounce, while platinum XPT= was flat at $859.66. Palladium gained 0.8% to $999.71 per ounce, but was holding near its lowest level since 2018.
