Gold prices flat as palladium rises

Gold was little changed on Thursday as the dollar steadied and equities climbed on signs of easing trade tensions between the United States and China, while palladium rose to a record high, trading at a premium to the bullion.
Spot gold was steady at $1,245.55 per ounce at 0806 GMT, while U.S. gold futures were up 0.1 percent at $1,251.2 per ounce.

“Market sentiment is neutral today… We’ve got a little more positive sentiment than we anticipated from U.S.-China trade tensions, which is weighing on the topside,” said Stephen Innes, APAC trading head at OANDA in Singapore.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major rivals, was down a tad at 96.958, after retreating from a near one-month high overnight.

Meanwhile, Asian shares advanced on signs of easing trade tensions between the world’s top two economies, and expectations that China will step up efforts soon to support its cooling economy.

China appears to be easing its high-tech industrial development push, dubbed “Made in China 2025,” which has long irked the United States, while it also made its first major U.S. soybean purchases in more than six months on Wednesday.
Investors seem more interested in equity at this point of time than in gold, said Ronald Leung, chief dealer at Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong. — Reuters.

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