Sept 10 (Reuters) - Gold prices held steady near a one-week
high on Thursday as the U.S. dollar weakened ahead of a policy
decision by the European Central Bank due later in the day.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was little changed at $1,946.10 per ounce
by 0030 GMT, after hitting its best level since Sept. 3 at
$1,950.51 on Wednesday.
* U.S. gold futures GCv1 were flat at $1,954.50.
* The dollar index .DXY fell from a four-week high against
its rivals, making gold less expensive for holders of other
currencies. USD/
* Asian markets are expected to swing higher on Thursday,
after U.S. stocks reversed course from a three-day losing streak
that led the technology-heavy Nasdaq into correction territory.
MKTS/GLOB
* The ECB is set to announce its rate decision at 1145 GMT
on Thursday. Investors will watch out for its inflation
forecasts, although no major policy moves are expected since it
has acted aggressively to shore up the virus-hit economy.
* The ECB's growth and inflation projections to be published
on Thursday will only show slight changes compared with the
bank's June forecasts, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
* The Bank of Canada on Wednesday held its key overnight
interest rate steady at 0.25%, as expected, but left the door
open for possible future changes to bond buying. * More than 27.72 million people have been reported to be
infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 898,411 have
died, according to a Reuters tally. * Meanwhile, SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest
gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.2% to
1,252.96 tonnes on Wednesday from 1,250.04 tonnes on Tuesday.
GOL/ETF
* Silver XAG= fell 0.4% to $26.92 per ounce, platinum
XPT= rose 0.3% to $918.26 and palladium XPD= gained 0.9% to
$2,292.28.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
1145 EU ECB Refinancing Rate Sept
1145 EU ECB Deposit Rate Sept
1230 US Initial Jobless Clm Weekly