Gold hovers below 3-1/2 month high, but eyes weekly gain

Gold hovered below a 3-1/2-month high on Friday after strong US inflation data supported the dollar, but the metal was set to post its biggest weekly jump in four weeks on bets the Federal Reserve will not hike interest rates this year.

 FUNDAMENTALS

 * Spot gold was steady at USD 1,181.80 an ounce by 0040 GMT. It had hit a 3-1/2-month high of USD 1,190.63 in the previous session, but ended the day lower.
* The metal snapped a four-day rally on Thursday after data showed a surprise 0.2-percent rise in the September US core consumer price index, boosting the year-on-year gain to 1.9 percent and pushing it closer to the Fed's 2-percent goal. 

* The data provided some relief to the dollar, which has been battered by a run of poor US indicators, helping it move away from seven-week lows hit earlier in the week.

 * But gold was on track for a 2-percent weekly jump as markets believe recent weak US data in the backdrop of sluggish data out of China would prompt the Fed to stand pat on rates until next year. 

* Gold benefits from low interest rates that cut the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets. 

* Many Fed watchers are exasperated by the mixed messages from the US central bank in recent weeks. Fed Chair Janet Yellen and other officials have said they expect a rate hike will be needed by the end of this year, but two Fed governors this week urged caution. 

* Fed policymakers are not as divided as it may appear and are generally operating under the same framework for determining when to raise interest rates, one Fed official said on Thursday, while another said the differences of opinion reflect the countervailing economic data.


For More Information : Bullion Tips, McxTrading Tips, Mcx Tips, Commodity Market Tips,Bullion Trading Tips,mcx market tips,Mcx Trading Tips,commodity tips,Commodity market tips