Gold prices were little changed on Tuesday as European stock markets rose and the dollar weakened, but moves were limited as New York markets remained closed due to Hurricane Sandy, and ahead of a key US jobs report due later this week. Spot gold rose by just 0.6 cents to $1,709.86 an ounce at 3:23 pm EST (1900 GMT). US gold futures for December rose $3.40 to $1,712.10.
But the metal remains on course for its first monthly loss since May as a boost from the Federal Reserve's latest monetary stimulus plan - a potentially inflationary move which would also maintain pressure on interest rates - petered out. It hit an 11-month high above $1,795 in October after the Fed's stimulus plan but retreated after failing to break $1,800. It is down more than 3 percent for the month. Spot platinum gained 1.3 percent to $1,549.99 an ounce, and palladium was up 1.25 percent at $593.22 an ounce. Silver was up 0.16 percent at $31.81 an ounce.