Gold drifts upwards as markets position for Fed meet, US economic data
Fed's policy meet to conclude on Wednesday, Powell to speak
U.S. non-farm payrolls data due on Friday
India's gold demand in the June quarter fell 5% YoY, WGC says
Updates prices as of 1059 GMT
By Sherin Elizabeth Varghese
July 30 (Reuters) -Gold prices edged higher on Tuesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's commentary on its monetary policy and a deluge of U.S. economic data due later in the week for more clues on the pace and scale of the Fed's interest rate cuts.
Spot gold XAU= was up 0.3% at $2,391.14 per ounce as of 1059 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 rose 0.4% to $2,387.80.
The Fed is anticipated to maintain current interest rates at the conclusion of its two-day meeting on Wednesday, but may signal potential policy easing as soon as September, citing inflation nearing its 2% target.
Market focus is also on a series of U.S. employment data scheduled to be released this week including the pivotal non-farm payrolls report due on Friday.
"Payrolls data is likely to show a slowdown in added jobs. Any signal from Fed official that a rate cut is near, is the next catalyst, supporting further investment demand for gold," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.
Investors will be keenly attuned to any clues from Fed Chair Jerome Powell during his press conference later on Wednesday regarding the timing of potential rate cuts by policymakers.
Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding bullion. FEDWATCH
India's gold demand in the June quarter fell 5% from a year earlier, but consumption in the second half of 2024 should improve due to a correction in local price following a steep reduction in import taxes, the World Gold Council said.
"However, the record high international prices have impacted consumer demand with global bar and coin demand falling 5% year-on-year and jewellery tumbling down 19%," Andrew Naylor, Head of Middle East and Public Policy at the World Gold Council said in a note.
Among other metals, spot silver XAG= rose 0.1% to $27.90 per ounce, platinum XPT= gained 0.3% to $950.98 and palladium XPD= was unchanged at $903.75.
Spot gold price in USD per oz https://reut.rs/3StbvkI
Reporting by Sherin Elizabeth Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by David Evans and Shreya Biswas
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