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PRECIOUS-Gold gains as rapid spread of virus spurs safe-haven demand

Published 27/02/2020, 02:34
© Reuters.  PRECIOUS-Gold gains as rapid spread of virus spurs safe-haven demand
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Feb 27 (Reuters) - Gold prices rose on Thursday as fears of

a pandemic heightened after coronavirus infections surged in

Italy and Iran, triggering a move away from riskier assets.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Spot gold XAU= gained 0.3% to $1,644.11 per ounce as of

0044 GMT.

* U.S. gold futures GCv1 was up 0.2% at $1,646.

* The number of new infections inside China - the source of

the outbreak - was for the first time overtaken by fresh cases

elsewhere on Wednesday, with Italy and Iran emerging as

epicentres of the rapidly spreading illness. * Italy has reported more than 400 cases and Iran has

reported only 139 cases, but epidemiologist say the true number

of cases must be many times higher.

* Financial markets have been reacting to news of the virus'

spread because of its potential impact on the global economy.

* The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yields were holding

close to a record low touched in the previous session, while S&P

500 e-mini futures also fell. US/ .N

* Public health officials on Wednesday warned Americans to

prepare for more virus cases and New York City announced plans

to provide up to 1,200 hospital beds if needed. * Germany is also at the beginning of an epidemic after new

cases sprung up which can no longer be traced to the virus's

original source in China, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on

Wednesday.

* Sales of new U.S. single-family homes raced to a

12-1/2-year high in January, pointing to housing market strength

that could help to blunt any hit on the economy from the

epidemic and keep the longest economic expansion in history on

track. * South Korea's central bank kept its key interest rate

unchanged on Thursday, defying expectations for a cut amid

growing pressure to ease policy as the outbreak hits demand in

the export-reliant economy. * SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest gold-backed

exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.5% to 935.70

tonnes on Wednesday. GOL/ETF

* Palladium XPD= rose 1.4% to $2,829.12 per ounce, while

platinum XPT= inched up 0.2% to $912.44, having touched its

lowest level since December earlier this session.

* Silver XAG= edged up 0.3% to $17.93 an ounce, after

having touched a one-week low in the previous session.

DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

1000 EU Consumer Confidence Final (Feb)

1330 U.S. Durable Goods (Jan)

1330 U.S. GDP 2nd Estimate (Q4)

1330 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims (Weekly)

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