Oct 2 (Reuters) - Gold prices were on track for their best
week in nearly two months as renewed hopes for a new round of
fiscal stimulus from Washington cheered investors, despite a
slight easing on the day due to an uptick in the U.S. dollar.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was down 0.2% at $1,901.98 per ounce by
0034 GMT on Friday, after rising 1% to a 1-1/2-week high of
$1,911.66 in the previous session.
* Gold has gained more than 2% so far this week, its biggest
weekly percentage gain since week ended Aug. 7.
* U.S. gold futures GCv1 were down 0.4% at $1,909.20.
* The dollar index .DXY rose 0.1% against its rivals,
making gold more expensive for holders of other currencies.
USD/
* The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless
benefits fell last week but remained at recession levels, while
personal income dropped in August, underscoring the need for
another government rescue package for businesses and the
unemployed. * The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a
$2.2 trillion Democratic plan for fresh relief from the
coronavirus pandemic, though objections from the White House and
top Republicans are likely to doom it in the Senate.
* Asian markets were little changed on Friday, as a U.S.
stimulus deal remained out of reach and investors waited on
fresh U.S. employment data for a read on the economic toll from
the pandemic. MKTS/GLOB
* President Donald Trump's re-election campaign on Thursday
rejected calls for new rules to govern the next two debates
between him and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, after a first
matchup marred by constant interruptions and outbursts.
* Silver XAG= dropped 0.7% to $23.72 per ounce, platinum
XPT= fell 0.4% to $892.22 and palladium XPD= eased 0.2% to
$2,310.77.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
0130 Australia Retail Sales MM Aug
1230 US Non-Farm Payrolls Sept
1230 US Unemployment Rate Sept
1230 US Average Earnings YY Sept
1400 US Factor Orders MM Aug
1400 US U Mich Sentiment Final Sept