PRECIOUS-Gold slips as higher U.S. Treasury yields dim appeal

* Gold prices to trade sideways for the next quarter - ANZ
* Fed Chair Powell reaffirms extended loose monetary policy
* Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust slip to lowest since May 2020
* Palladium scales a more than one-month high, last up 1%

(Updates prices)
By Sumita Layek
Feb 25 (Reuters) - Gold eased on Thursday as U.S. Treasury
yields hovered near a one-year high, tarnishing bullion's
appeal, although a softer dollar and the U.S. Federal Reserve's
commitment to an accommodative policy limited its fall.
Spot gold XAU= fell 0.6% to $1,792.81 per ounce by 0757
GMT. U.S. gold futures GCv1 eased 0.4% to $1,791.60.
"Rising longer dated yields are a primary weighing factor on
the precious metals," DailyFX strategist Margaret Yang said,
adding that reflation hopes could push yields even higher.
Benchmark U.S. Treasury yields held close to a one-year peak
hit in the previous session, increasing the opportunity cost of
holding gold, which pays no interest. US/ A $1.9 trillion U.S. coronavirus relief aid that is expected
to be passed later this week remains in focus. "The primary trend for gold is downward biased but some
short-term rebound is still possible if the U.S. COVID-19 relief
bill is approved by the Congress by Friday," Yang said, adding
the medium-term outlook remained bearish.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's reiteration of keeping monetary
policy unchanged until the economy was back to full employment
and a weaker dollar helped limit gold's losses.
USD/
Reflecting investor sentiment, holdings of the world's
largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust GLD ,
fell to their lowest since May 2020 on Wednesday. GOL/ETF
"Investor demand for gold has been distracted by moves in
other alternative asset classes," ANZ analysts said in a note.
"We expect gold prices will trade sideways for the next
quarter or so as the bond selloff continues and investors play
the reflation trade through risky asset classes. But gold's time
in the sun is not over."
Among other precious metals, silver XAG= fell 0.5% to
$27.84 an ounce. Platinum XPT= fell 0.8% to $1,257.97.
Palladium XPD= eased 1% to $2,410.94, having earlier
climbed to a more than one-month high of $2,444.50.

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Gold prices versus real yeilds https://tmsnrt.rs/3upm8Y9
SPDR holdings slip as gold prices ease https://tmsnrt.rs/3dJ7R2s
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