Gold weakens in Europe

Gold fell more than 2 percent on Tuesday as a stronger dollar dented the precious metal's appeal as a currency hedge, but the platinum group metals rallied as investors hunted for bargains. Spot gold was quoted at $846.50/848.10 an ounce at 1444 GMT, down from $858.90 late in New York on Monday.
However, it lifted off an earlier low of $838.55 as the dollar trimmed gains against the euro after a raft of US data at 1500 GMT. US gold futures for February delivery on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange were down $10.10 at $847.70. VM Group analyst Matthew Turner said investors were looking to the currency markets for direction.
"A lot of news on physical demand has been quite poor, and that might also be weighing on prices," he added. The US currency rose against the euro after a flash estimate of euro zone inflation data came in weaker than expected, increasing pressure on the European Central Bank to cut interest rates. Analysts said the prospect of an ECB rate cut at the bank's next interest rate meeting on January 15 was pressuring the single currency, and consequently gold.
A firm dollar reduces gold's appeal as an alternative investment. However, the US currency trimmed gains versus the euro after data showed US factory orders and pending home sales dropped by more than expected in November. ETF Securities, which operates Europe's largest gold-backed ETF, said holdings of its Physical Gold exchange-traded commodity rose 2 percent in the week to January 2 to 1.899 million ounces.
Holdings of the world's largest bullion ETF, the SPDR Gold Trust, held at a record 780.23 tonnes on Monday. "Gold is holding (where it is) because of investment demand for gold ETFs, rather than demand from the physical side or as a hedge against the US dollar," said Commerzbank analyst Eugen Weinberg. Firmer oil prices, which are holding just below $50 a barrel as supply fears were fuelled by Israel's incursion into Gaza and a dispute between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas, also lent some support to gold.
Among other precious metals, platinum and palladium rallied to multi-week highs, shrugging off a spate of poor vehicle sales news from carmakers, the major consumers of the metals. Spot palladium was the main riser, climbing 8 percent to a six-week high of $198.50.
The metal was later quoted at $194.50/199.50, against $183.50 late in New York on Monday. Platinum also climbed more than 2 percent to $967.50, its highest level for three months. It was later at $958.50/963.50 an ounce against $946. Spot silver eased to $11.11/11.19 an ounce from $11.22.