FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,815.58 per ounce, as of
0046 GMT, after hitting a one-week low on Wednesday. U.S. gold
futures were unchanged at $1,819.10.
* The dollar index was down from three-month highs
scaled on Wednesday, making bullion more affordable for buyers
holding other currencies.
* Fed Chair Powell on Wednesday reaffirmed his message of
higher and potentially faster interest rate hikes, but
emphasized that debate was still underway with a decision
hinging on data to be issued before the U.S. central bank's
policy meeting in two weeks.
* Although gold is considered a hedge against inflation,
interest rate hikes to control rising prices dims non-yielding
bullion's appeal.
* Investors' focus will now be on the U.S. jobs report for
February due on Friday.
* Private employment increased by 242,000 jobs last month,
the ADP National Employment report showed on Wednesday.
* Other data on Wednesday showed U.S. job openings fell less
than expected in January, pointing to persistently tight labor
market conditions.
* Markets are pricing in a 50-basis-point hike at the Fed's
March 21-22 policy meeting.
* Spot silver was flat at $20.01 per ounce, platinum edged 0.1% higher at $938.23 and palladium firmed
0.2% to $1,375.47.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
0130 China PPI, CPI YY Feb
1330 US Initial Jobless Clm Weekly
(Reporting by Kavya Guduru in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry
Jacob-Phillips)
March 9 (Reuters) - Gold prices edged higher on Thursday
as the dollar eased, although U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome
Powell's hawkish remarks limited further gains in zero-yielding
bullion.
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