PRECIOUS-Gold gains as Fed rate cut bets hold, growth concerns linger

* Fed's Powell could provide cues on near-term policy this
week
* SPDR Gold holdings fell 0.2% on Friday

(Updates prices)
By Eileen Soreng
July 8 (Reuters) - Gold firmed above $1,400 an ounce on
Monday, helped by expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve would
stay on course with an interest rate cut this month despite
robust U.S. jobs data and as global growth concerns linger.
Spot gold XAU= was 0.4% higher at $1,404.58 per ounce at
1205 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCv1 climbed 0.5% to $1,407.4 an
ounce.
"The Fed is likely to cut interest rates as early as this
month and in that environment, gold as a non-yielding asset
ought to do better and would be more attractive to investors in
a world of lower interest rates," said Mitsubishi analyst
Jonathan Butler.
The forecast-beating job gains ended the chances for a steep
Fed rate cut at its July 30-31 meeting, although modest wage
gains and other data showing the world's largest economy was
losing steam, meant the central bank was still expected to cut
rates by a quarter point. Monday's gains, helped in part by subdued global stocks,
helped gold recover slightly from a more than 1% decline on
Friday following the U.S. jobs data. USD/ MKTS/GLOB
"The resilience of bullion, which was able to quickly
recover above $1,400 despite better than expected U.S. data, is
confirming the huge interest of investors for gold in this
scenario," Carlo Alberto De Casa, chief analyst with
ActivTrades, wrote in a note.
"The psychological threshold of $1,400 is now working as a
support, while $1,440 is the new key resistance level."
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is expected to provide further
cues on the near-term outlook for monetary policy this week at
his semi-annual testimony to the U.S. Congress on the economy.
A rate cut by the Fed could also prompt China's central bank
to cut its benchmark policy rate for the first time in four
years to support a slowing economy, analysts say, joining other
major economies in easing monetary policy. Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of
holding non-yielding bullion and weigh on the dollar, making
gold cheaper for investors holding other currencies.
"We've got a period of heightened concern around global
growth at the moment, which makes gold seem an attractive option
as diversifier," said Capital Economics analyst Ross Strachan.
Meanwhile, holdings of SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's
largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, fell 0.18% to 796.97
tonnes on Friday from 798.44 tonnes on Wednesday. GOL/ETF
Among other precious metals, silver XAG= gained 0.7% to
$15.08 per ounce, while palladium XPD= dipped 0.3% to
$1,561.19 and platinum XPT= rose 1% to $812.62 per ounce.