Gold prices inched lower in Asian trade on Monday as the dollar held firm below a 19-month peak on safe-haven demand amid concerns of a global economic slowdown, and as investors awaited cues on US interest rate hikes from a Federal Reserve meeting this week. Spot gold was unchanged at $1,238.12 per ounce at 0820 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.1 percent at $1,242.1 per ounce.
"Gold's move today is purely dollar-driven," said Kunal Shah, head of research, Nirmal Bang Commodities in Mumbai, India.
"Ahead of the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting, we are going to see some downward movement... But the fact remains that the underlying strength in gold is likely to continue."
Markets will closely watch the future trajectory of US monetary policy at the Federal Reserve's Dec. 18-19 meeting where the board is set to raise interest rates by 25 basis points.
"Markets will rally on the back of dollar weakness after the central bank signals a more dovish stance, but the advance will fall back quickly as global growth concerns reassert themselves," INTL FCStone analyst Edward Meir said in a note.
Prospects of higher US interest rates are negative for dollar-priced gold as they raise the opportunity cost of holding the bullion.
Spot gold is biased to break a support at $1,232 per ounce, and fall to a lower support zone of $1,224-$1,228, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.
Meanwhile, hedge funds and money managers switched to net long position in Comex gold in the week ended Dec. 11, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday.
This was the first time gold speculators held a net long position since July, and the strongest since June.
"Uncertainties of the trade war are still weighing on the market," said Dick Poon, general manager, Heraeus Metals Hong Kong Ltd.
"It is getting close to Christmas time, so it is getting super quiet in the market. Investors reduce their inventories as much as possible before the year ends."
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