PRECIOUS-Gold slips as risk sentiment improves, losses trimmed on recession worries

(Adds comments, details and updates prices)
* Dollar hovers close to near three-week peak
* Bank of Japan eases monetary policy
* For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread,
open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7
in an external browser

By Asha Sistla
April 27 (Reuters) - Gold prices fell on Monday as risk
appetite improved on further stimulus from Japan's central bank
and countries considering easing of coronavirus-led
restrictions, although bullion's losses were limited on worries
over a global recession.
Spot gold XAU= eased 0.3% to $1,722.61 per ounce by 0259
GMT. U.S. gold futures GCv1 rose 0.3% to $1,740.90.
"The peak(ing) (of the) virus will be the theme of the week.
Should be positive for equities but will sap the upside momentum
for gold for now," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at
OANDA.
"... Only the U.S. Federal Reserve really matters, and if
the world thinks we've reached peak virus and countries are
partially reopening, any extra stimulus will get drowned in
COVID-19 noise."
Gold tends to benefit from widespread stimulus measures as
it is often seen as a hedge against inflation and currency
debasement.
Asian shares inched higher ahead of a busy week for earnings
and central bank meetings. MKTS/GLOB
The Bank of Japan ramped up risky asset purchases and
pledged to buy unlimited amounts of government bonds to combat
the economic fallout from the coronavirus epidemic. Against key rivals, the U.S. dollar .DXY inched lower, but
hovered close to a near three-week peak it touched on Friday. A
stronger dollar makes gold costlier for investors using other
currencies. USD/
Various nations, including the United States, are on track
to ease certain restrictions and allow businesses to reopen,
raising investors' hopes of higher number of testing kits and
more drug trials. Holdings of the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded
fund, SPDR Gold Trust GLD , rose 0.6% to 1,048.31 tonnes on
Friday. GOL/ETF
Palladium XPD= rose 0.7% to $2,038.16 per ounce, while
platinum XPT= gained 0.9% to $766.90 and silver XAG= edged
higher by 0.3% to $15.28.