PRECIOUS-Gold gains as investors bank on eventual U.S. stimulus

(Updates prices)
* Dollar headed for first weekly gain in four
* Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus:
https://tmsnrt.rs/3mvcUoa

By Shreyansi Singh
Dec 11 (Reuters) - Gold rose on Friday headed for a second
straight weekly gain as investors bet that a new U.S. COVID-19
relief package was imminent.
Spot gold XAU= advanced 0.3% to $1,839.90 per ounce at
1:59 p.m. EST (1859 GMT), having earlier dipped as much as 0.6%.
U.S. gold futures GCcv1 settled up 0.3% to $1,843.60.
"We still believe the stimulus package will get put forth
and that will continue to be the underlying support behind gold
and silver moving forward," said David Meger, director of metals
trading at High Ridge Futures.
He added the stalling of the plan in the U.S. Congress had
prompted an initial pullback in gold.
Gold has been under some pressure after reaching close to
the $1,875 level earlier this week amid a slight bounce in the
dollar off recent lows, Meger said.
Gold's latest gains came despite a stronger greenback, with
the dollar index .DXY headed for its first weekly gain in
four. USD/
U.S. lawmakers, facing mounting pressure from weak
employment data and surging coronavirus infections, sought more
time to hammer out an agreement on a stimulus package.
"You're going to see gold move higher next year, but this
year, it will be fairly choppy going into year end," said Chris
Gaffney, president of world markets at TIAA Bank.
Considered a hedge against inflation and currency
debasement, gold has gained more than 21% this year, helped by
massive amounts of stimulus to support pandemic-hit economies.
"We will get a stimulus deal by the end of the month and the
U.S. Federal Reserve will maintain its very loose monetary
stance, and that should help underpin gold into 2021," said
Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.
Silver XAG= rose 0.1% to $23.97 per ounce. Palladium
XPD= fell 0.4% to $2,322.07 per ounce and platinum XPT
declined 1.4% to $1,012.46.