July 16 (Reuters) - Gold prices were little changed in early
Asian trade on Tuesday as investors awaited U.S. retail sales
data due later in the day for further clues on policy easing
from the Federal Reserve in the face of a global slowdown.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was down 0.1% at $1,412.24 per ounce, as
of 0107 GMT.
* U.S. gold futures GCv1 were up 0.2% at $1,416.20 an
ounce.
* U.S. data on Tuesday is expected to show that retail sales
gained 0.1% in June, according to the median estimate of
economists polled by Reuters.
* The dollar index .DXY was relatively unchanged against a
basket of major currencies as the prospect of a Federal Reserve
interest rate cut later in the month kept the greenback on the
defensive. USD/
* A rate cut this month is seen as certain with interest
rate futures traders pricing in a 72% chance of a 25 basis point
cut and a 28% likelihood of a 50 basis point cut, according to
the CME Group's FedWatch tool.
* Longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields edged lower on Monday as
investors focused on Tuesday's retail sales figures as the next
indicator of the strength of the U.S. economy. US/
* Asian shares inched up on Tuesday as traders awaited U.S.
retail sales data and more corporate earnings. {MKTS/GLOB]
* India's gold imports rose 13.04% to $2.69 billion in June
compared with a year earlier, the trade ministry said in a
statement on Monday. AHEAD (GMT)
* 0830 UK Claimant Count Unemployment Chng June
* 0830 UK ILO Unemployment Rate May
* 1230 US Retail Sales MM June
* 1315 US Industrial Production MM June
* 1700 France Fed Chair Jerome Powell speak at
conference