PRECIOUS-Gold firms as U.S.-China trade uncertainty persists

(Adds comments, updates prices)
* Palladium marks fresh high of $1,876.54/oz
* U.S. trade deficit falls 7.6% to $47.2 bln in October
* U.S. weekly jobless claims decline 10,000 to 203,000
* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns: http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl

By Eileen Soreng
Dec 5 (Reuters) - Gold edged higher on Wednesday as
uncertainty emerging from mixed messages on the U.S-China trade
negotiations offset headwinds from positive economic data out of
the United States, while deficit-hit palladium extended a record
surge.
Spot gold XAU= was up 0.2% at $1,477.09 per ounce by 10:31
a.m. ET (1531 GMT), having hit its highest since Nov. 7 at
$1,484 the previous day. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 rose 0.1% to
$1,482.20.
"We're seeing safe haven demand for gold," said Quantitative
Commodity Research analyst Peter Fertig.
"As long as (U.S. President Donald) Trump does not make a
clear statement about what he wants, the markets will remain
puzzled," said Fertig.
Tariffs must be cut if Washington and Beijing are to reach
an interim trade agreement, the Chinese commerce ministry said
on Thursday.
This came a day after Trump said trade talks were going
"very well," which were in contrast to his previous comments,
suggesting a deal might have to wait until after the 2020 U.S.
presidential election, denting risk appetite.
On the technical side, a break below the key support around
$1,450 could prompt a test of the $1,400 level, Standard
Chartered Bank analyst Suki Cooper said in a note.
"For now, the physical market is providing a sufficient
cushion against the downside, and we believe the macro
environment presents upside risk to prices in 2020."
Also helping gold, the dollar .DXY slipped versus major
currencies, making the metal cheaper for investors holding other
currencies. USD/
Limiting the upside for safe-haven bullion, however, were
positive economic readings from the United States.
Data showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits
dropped to the lowest level since mid-April for the week ended
Nov. 30, while U.S. trade deficit dipped to its lowest level in
nearly 1-1/2 years in October.
Elsewhere, palladium XPD= continued its record run,
scaling an all-time peak of $1,876.54 an ounce on concerns over
supply of the auto catalyst metal. It was last down 0.2% at
$1,865.44.
"Constrained mine supply and growing demand should send
palladium into its ninth straight year of market deficit in
2020," UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo said in a note.
Among other metals, platinum XPT= eased 0.4% to $891.64
while silver XAG= climbed 0.6% to $16.92.