Jan 6 (Reuters) - Gold ticked up on Wednesday, aided by a
weaker dollar, while investors awaited the results of the U.S.
Senate runoff elections in Georgia that will decide the
prospects of further stimulus.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= rose 0.1% to $1,950.46 per ounce by 0049
GMT, after hitting a peak since Nov. 9 at $1,952.98 earlier in
the session. U.S. gold futures GCv1 was flat at $1,954.20.
* Polls closed in Georgia after voters cast ballots in a
pair of runoff elections that will determine both control of the
U.S. Senate and Democratic President-elect Joe Biden's ability
to push through an ambitious legislative agenda. * Democrat candidates jumped to early leads in preliminary
voting returns, data compiled by Edison Research showed. The
results could be known by Wednesday, although the outcome may
remain in doubt for days if the margins are razor-thin.
* The U.S. dollar .DXY held near an over two-year low
against rivals. USD/
* U.S. factory activity accelerated to its highest level in
nearly 2-1/2 years in December. * Holdings in the world's largest gold-backed
exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust GLD fell 0.1% to
1,186.78 tonnes on Tuesday. GOL/ETF
* Silver XAG= shed 0.1% to $27.55 an ounce. Platinum XPT=
fell 0.7% to $1,103.57, while palladium XPD= eased 0.5% at
$2,455.29.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
0500 India HIS Markit Svcs PMI Dec
0700 UK Reserve Assets Total Dec
0745 France CPI (EU Norm) Prelim YY Dec
0850 France Markit Svcs, Comp PMIs Dec
0855 Germany Markit Svcs PMI Dec
0855 Germany Markit Comp Final PMI Dec
0900 EU Markit Serv, Comp Final PMIs Dec
1300 Germany CPI, HICP Prelim YY Dec
1445 US Markit Serv, Comp Final PMIs Dec
1500 US Factory Orders MM Nov
1900 US Federal Open Market Committee will release
minutes from its Dec. 15 - 16 policy meeting