* Spot gold was up 0.2% at $1,994.48 per ounce, as of 0036 GMT. U.S. gold futures rose 0.1% to $1,994.60.
* The dollar index was 0.1% lower, making bullion less expensive for other currency holders.
* Investors are now awaiting the U.S. consumer price data due on Wednesday for more clarity on the path of rates heading into the Fed's May policy meeting.
* A strong U.S. employment report released on Friday raised
bets that the U.S. central bank would raise interest rates next
month, with markets pricing in a 71.3% chance of a 25
basis-point hike, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
* Americans said last month that access to credit was at its
toughest level in nearly a decade, as they also braced for
higher levels of inflation over the next few years, a report
from the New York Fed said.
* The opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion rises
when interest rates are increased to bring down inflation.
* Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams
said on Monday that financial system troubles that drove the
central bank to provide large amounts of credit to banks was not
collateral damage from the Fed's aggressive effort to lower
inflation.
* SPDR Gold Trust , the world's largest gold-backed
exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.25% to 933.22
tonnes on Monday, from 930.91 tonnes on Thursday.
* Spot silver inched up 0.1% to $24.91 per ounce,
platinum firmed 0.3% to $994.64 and palladium gained 1.3% to $1,429.54.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT) 0130 China PPI, CPI YY March (Reporting by Kavya Guduru in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
