PRECIOUS-Gold edges up on economic woes, firm dollar caps gains

* Dollar hits near one-month high
* Tech rout roils equities
* Investors await ECB policy decision on Thursday
* Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus:
open
https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser

(Recasts, adds comments; updates prices)
By Diptendu Lahiri
Sept 9 (Reuters) - Gold firmed on Wednesday on lingering
uncertainties stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, but gains
were limited as the dollar too gained from safe-haven inflows
driven by worries about a delay in the development of a vaccine.
Spot gold XAU= was up 0.3% at $1,936.47 per ounce by 1302
GMT, shaking off initial declines. U.S. gold futures GCcv1
were little changed at $1,942.50.
The dollar .DXY , also seen as a safe haven, was at a near
one-month high against rivals, making gold expensive for holders
of other currencies. USD/
Gold's fundamentals are "still rock solid", and given the
strength in the dollar, "gold should have been down much more",
said Afshin Nabavi, senior vice president at precious metals
trader MKS SA.
Global trials of AstraZeneca's AZN.L experimental COVID-19
vaccine were paused due to an unexplained illness in a study
participant, keeping sentiment fragile in wider markets after a
tech-driven sell-off in Wall Street on Tuesday. MKTS/GLOB
The news of the delay may be indirectly supportive for
gold, as it could spell a prolonged economic slowdown and
further expectations of fiscal stimulus, said Saxo Bank analyst
Ole Hansen.
Investors now await the outcome of the European Central
Bank's policy meeting on Thursday.
"European countries do need some kind of economic help from
the central bank, which would make the euro a little weaker
compared to the dollar," independent analyst Ross Norman said.
"But given the lingering uncertainties, that won't cause
much damage to gold's shine."
The pandemic has forced major central banks to provide
massive stimulus, helping gold gain about 28% so far this year
since it is considered a hedge against potential currency
debasement and inflation.
Elsewhere, platinum XPT= was up 1.3% at $912.88. On
Tuesday, the World Platinum Investment Council changed its
forecast for the market in 2020 from a surplus to a deficit.
Silver XAG= was little changed $26.71, while palladium
XPD= was down 0.4% at $2,264.53.

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