PRECIOUS-Gold inches up as dollar stays weak vs euro,ETF flat

Gold inched up on Thursday, drawing
support from the dollar's weakness against the euro and investor
risk appetite which has helped boost assets across markets.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Spot gold XAU= was up 0.2 percent at $963.60 per ounce as
of 0000 GMT, compared with New York's notional close of $961.95.

* U.S. gold futures for December delivery GCZ9 were little
changed at $966.50 an ounce, compared to $966.30 an ounce on the
COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

* Gold futures dipped on Wednesday as weaker equities
prompted funds to consolidate recent profits, but the market drew
support from a renewed appetite for risk among investors.

* The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, the
SPDR Gold Trust GLD, said holdings stood at 1,072.87 tonnes as
of Aug. 5, unchanged from the previous business day. [GOL/SPDR]

MARKET NEWS

* The Nikkei was up 0.1 percent. [.T]

* U.S. stocks slipped on Wednesday after weak data on the
services sector and private payrolls cooled recent optimism the
recession was retreating, but the market finished off its lows as
investors ventured into riskier financial shares. [.N]

* The dollar stayed near its 2009 lows against the euro on
Thursday, after hitting a nine-month low versus the single
currency and slipped against the yen the day before on hopes a
slower pace of U.S. private job losses in July hinted at a
gradual improvement in the economy. [USD/]

DATA EVENTS

* The following data is expected on Thursday: ECON

- Japan coincident indicator for June. (0500 GMT)

- Germany June industrial orders. (1000 GMT)

- Bank of England policy decision. (1100 GMT)

- European Central Bank policy decision. (1145 GMT)

- ECB's President Jean-Claude Trichet holds a news
conference. (1230 GMT)

- Weekly U.S. jobless claims. (1230 GMT)

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PRICES

Precious metals prices at 0000 GMT
Metal Last Change Pct chg Day ago pct MA 30 RSI
Spot gold $963.45 $1.50 +0.16% +7.41% $860.10 66
Spot silver $14.66 $0.02 +0.14% +22.37% $11.29 75
Spot plat $1279.00 -$3.50 -0.27% +34.77% $948.98 78
COMEX gold $964.30 $76.10 +8.57% +7.20% $857.64 64
TOCOM gold 2,946 363 +14.05% +12.92% 2,476 66
TOCOM plat 3,900 1160 +42.34% +41.05% 2,659 76
Currencies
Euro/dlr $1.441 $0.127 +9.70% +9.36%
Dlr/yen 94.79 4.41 +4.88% +6.60%
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