Aug 17 (Reuters) - Gold prices extended losses on Monday,
after their worst week in five months, on lingering risk
appetite, while the Sino-U.S. trade relationship hinted at
potential improvement.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was down 0.5% at $1,934.91 per ounce by
0036 GMT. Gold fell 4.5% last week, its biggest weekly decline
since March.
* U.S. gold futures GCv1 eased 0.3% to $1,943.50 per
ounce.
* A lift in U.S. bond yields gave the dollar some respite
after weeks of losses. A stronger greenback makes gold cheaper
for holders of other currencies. US/
* Asian markets were flat near recent highs; while stock
index futures indicated that U.S. equities will make moderate
gains on Monday ahead of retail earnings. MKTS/GLOB
* Worldwide, there are over 21.58 million people infected by
the coronavirus and 766,383 have died, according to a Reuters
tally. * Japan's economy shrank for the third straight quarter,
marking the biggest contraction on record, as the pandemic
continues to take its toll. * U.S. retail sales increased less than expected in July,
and could slow even further in the coming months. * Speculators reduced their bullish positions in COMEX gold
and silver contracts in the week to Aug. 11, the U.S. Commodity
Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. CFTC/
* In a possible sign of easing tensions after a protracted
trade war, China increased U.S. oil purchases on Friday ahead of
a trade deal review. * SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest gold-backed
exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.30% to 1,248.29
tonnes on Friday. GOL/ETF
* Silver XAG= slipped 0.6% to $26.25 per ounce. Platinum
XPT= rose 1% to $945.55, and palladium XPD= gained 1.6% to
$2,143.09.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
1000 EU Reserve Assets Total July