PRECIOUS-Gold steadies as concerns on Brexit, trade war linger

* Palladium on track for a weekly gain
* China's Q3 economic growth weakest in nearly three decades
* Brexit parliament vote on Saturday
* GRAPHIC-Gold vs currencies: http://tmsnrt.rs/1JxbO6Y

(Updates prices)
By Swati Verma
Oct 18 (Reuters) - Gold steadied on Friday, helped by a
weaker dollar, with the possibility of a no-deal Brexit,
uncertainties over U.S-China trade and fears of a global
slowdown keeping bullion on track for a small weekly gain.
Spot gold XAU= was little changed at $1,490.70 an ounce as
of 01:32 p.m. EDT (1732 GMT), holding in a relatively tight
range for most of the session. U.S. gold futures GCv1 settled
0.3% lower at $1,494.10 an ounce.
"The dollar is a bit soft so (that) could help a little, but
overall gold is meandering in no-man's land. Perhaps we've found
a restive equilibrium until we get a fresh macro driver," said
Tai Wong, head of base and precious metals derivatives trading
at BMO.
"The $1,380-$1,400 range ought to be a solid bottom for gold
and $1,480-$1,520 seems really to be the equilibrium."
Britain and the European Union sealed a new Brexit deal on
Thursday, but whether that deal will be approved by the British
parliament on Saturday is keeping markets on edge.
"Brexit is a coin flip at this point of time going into the
weekend, we're still waiting on the trade situation to see if
they're going to ink an actual partial deal," said David Meger,
director of metals trading at High Ridge Futures.
"The focal point today will be the Fed speak. We're hoping
to get any type of clue if there are any changes in the rate cut
mentality at the end of this month. In recent days there have
been discussions about a potential pause."
The U.S. Federal Reserve is watching for signs that a global
trade slowdown is having an impact in the United States beyond
manufacturing and investment, but is not yet heading into a
"full-fledged rate cutting cycle," Dallas Federal Reserve
President Robert Kaplan said. In another sign the trade dispute is dragging on economic
growth, data from China showed its third-quarter economic growth
slowed to its weakest pace in almost three decades. The auto catalyst palladium XPD= fell 0.6% to $1,747.70 an
ounce, a day after hitting a record high of $1,783.21. The metal
was still up 3% so far this week.
"Palladium may be losing a little steam after an
uninterrupted $100 rally. Forwards are well in backwardation but
nowhere near panic levels we saw earlier in the year," BMO's
Wong added.
"The market needs the material so $1,800 certainly is
possible, even probable, but perhaps not in this run."
Platinum XPT= gained 0.3% to $890.14 while silver XAG=
edged 0.2% higher to $17.55.