Sept 28 (Reuters) - Gold steadied on Monday as the dollar
rally took a pause, while traders were on sidelines as political
uncertainty built ahead of the first presidential election
debate between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Democratic
rival Joe Biden this week.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was little changed at $1,860.19 per ounce
by 0107 GMT.
* U.S. gold futures GCv1 were down 0.1% at $1,864.50.
* The dollar index .DXY was down 0.1% against rivals,
slightly off a two-month peak hit in the last session. USD/
* A firmer dollar makes bullion more expensive for holders
of other currencies.
* Trump and Biden will have their first presidential
election debate on Tuesday. * Investors also looked for any signs of further stimulus
after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday a deal
could be reached with the White House on a coronavirus relief
package and that talks were continuing. * New orders for key U.S.-made capital goods increased more
than expected in August and shipments raced to their highest
level in nearly six years, suggesting a rebound in business
spending on equipment was underway after a prolonged slump.
* Coronavirus cases are edging closer to 33 million around
the globe, with 992,470 reportedly dead. * Speculators reduced their bullish positions in COMEX gold
and silver contracts in the week to Sept. 22, the U.S. Commodity
Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. * Holdings in SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest
gold-backed exchange-traded fund, fell 0.02% to 1,266.84 tonnes
on Friday. * Physical gold demand limped higher in top Asian hubs last
week, with dealers in India easing discounts to the lowest level
in six weeks, as a drop in prices saw a little interest return
in the precious metal. * Silver XAG= rose 0.3% to $22.93 per ounce, platinum
XPT= gained 0.4% to $850.74 and palladium XPD= was up 0.1%
to $2,217.87.