Aug 9 (Reuters) - Gold prices rose on Friday, holding above
the key $1,500 per ounce pivot, as fresh concerns about the
U.S.-China trade dispute and worries over global economic
slowdown lifted demand for the safe-haven metal.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was up 0.3% at $1,504.22 per ounce as of
0124 GMT.
* The metal has risen more than 4% so far this week, putting
it on track for its second consecutive weekly gain.
* U.S. gold futures GCcv1 rose 0.4% to $1,515.10 an ounce.
* Trade tensions between the United States and China further
escalated after a report that Washington is delaying a decision
about licenses for U.S. firms to restart trade with Huawei
Technologies. HWT.UL .,
* Meanwhile, U.S. economic data pointed to a robust labour
market as the number of Americans filing applications for
unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, allaying some
worries about the potential for a recession and helping U.S.
Treasury yields rise. US/
* Central banks in New Zealand, Thailand and India stunned
financial markets on Wednesday with a series of surprising
interest rate cuts and pointing to policymakers' dwindling
ammunition to fight off a downturn. * On Thursday, the Philippine central bank joined the
bandwagon and cut its key policy rates, whilst keeping the door
open for further easing. * The dollar index .DXY was down 0.1% and was heading for
its first weekly decline in four. USD/
* SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest gold-backed
exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.66% to 839.85
tonnes on Thursday from 845.42 tonnes on Wednesday. GOL/ETF
* Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO , GOLD.N is looking to sell
its Tongon gold mine in the Ivory Coast and is working with Bank
of Nova Scotia BNS.TO to identify buyers, Bloomberg said on
Thursday. AHEAD (GMT)
* 0130 China PPI YY July
* 0130 China CPI YY July
* 0830 UK Manufacturing Output MM June
* 0830 UK GDP Prelim QQ, YY Q2
* N/A China M2 Money Supply YY July