Dec 31 (Reuters) - Gold prices were steady on Tuesday,
holding below a more than two-month peak hit in the previous
session, as weakness in the dollar countered optimism about the
United States and China signing an interim trade deal soon.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was little changed at $1,515.23 per ounce
by 0044 GMT. Prices hit their highest since Oct. 25 at $1,516.20
in the previous session. U.S. gold futures GCv1 were unchanged
at $1,518.30.
* Gold prices are set to post their best year since 2010,
having gained about 18%, mainly driven by a tariff war between
the world's two largest economies and quantitative easing by
major central banks.
* The dollar .DXY edged lower against a basket of rivals,
making gold cheaper for holders of other currencies. On Friday,
the index suffered its biggest one-day fall since March.
* The White House's trade adviser said on Monday the
U.S.-China Phase 1 deal would be signed next week, but said
confirmation would come from President Donald Trump or the U.S.
Trade Representative. * The South China Morning Post reported on Monday Chinese
Vice Premier Liu He would visit Washington this week to sign the
deal. * Speculators raised their bullish positions in COMEX gold
contracts in the week to Dec. 24. * China's net gold imports via Hong Kong in November plunged
72% from the previous month to their lowest in nearly nine
years, data from the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department
showed on Monday.
* Among other precious metals, silver XAG= rose 0.1%
to$17.93 per ounce, while platinum XPT= gained 0.4% to $961.27
and palladium XPD= edged up 0.1% at $1,907.66 per ounce.
DATA AHEAD (GMT)
0600 Russia Markit Services PMI Dec
0700* Turkey Trade Balance Nov
0800* Switzerland Official Reserves Assets Nov
1000* Brazil TJLP Lending Rate Q1
1400 U.S. CaseShiller 20 House Prices Oct
1500 U.S. Consumer Confidence Dec
*approximate release time