Dec 16 (Reuters) - Gold prices inched lower on Monday as
investors moved to riskier assets following the announcement of
an interim deal between the United States and China that cooled
a 17-month-old trade dispute.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was down 0.1% at $1,473.88 per ounce, as
of 0050 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCv1 were down 0.2% at
$1,478.60.
* The "phase one" trade agreement was announced on Friday
and on Sunday U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said
U.S. exports to China will nearly double over the next two years
although officials are yet to decide a date to sign the
agreement. * The United States suspended some tariffs on Chinese goods
that was due to go into effect on Sunday, while China State
Council's customs tariff commission said it had dropped its plan
for additional tariffs on some U.S. goods. * Asian shares rose as investors breathed a sigh of relief
after a thaw in tariff war. MKTS/GLOB
* The U.S. economy is doing well and looks set to stay that
way next year, two top Federal Reserve policymakers said on
Friday, remarks that suggest they are content to leave interest
rates where they are. * However, data from U.S. showed on Friday retail sales
increased less than expected in November as Americans cut back
on discretionary spending despite a strong labour market.
* In the UK, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will "get
Brexit done" by Jan. 31 and then agree to a new trade deal with
the European Union by the end of 2020, cabinet office minister
Michael Gove said on Sunday. * Speculators slashed their bullish positions in COMEX gold
in the week to Dec. 10, data showed. CFTC/
* Gold dealers in India offered a discount last week due to
plentiful supplies and slack demand during the wedding season,
with other regions in Asia expecting improvement in buying ahead
of the Christmas and Chinese New Year festivities. GOL/AS
* Elsewhere, Palladium XPD= rose 0.6% to $1,941.09 an
ounce, silver XAG= shed 0.1% to $16.92 per ounce, while
platinum XPT= fell 0.2% to $926.08.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
0200 China Urban Investment (YTD) YY Nov
0200 China Industrial Output YY Nov
0200 China Retail Sales YY Nov
0815 France Markit Mfg, Serv, Comp Flash PMIs Dec
0830 Germany Markit Mfg, Serv, Comp Flash PMIs Dec
0900 EU Markit Mfg, Serv, Comp Flash PMIs Dec
0930 UK Markit Mfg, Serv, Composite Flash PMIs Dec
1100 EU Reserve Assets Total Nov
1445 US Markit Mfg, Serv, Comp Flash PMIs Dec