GOLD prices dipped on Friday after climbing more than 1% in the previous session, although hopes of a likely pause on interest rate hikes by the U.S. central bank kept bullion on course for a weekly gain.
Spot gold fell 0.2% to $1,964.59 per ounce by 0648 GMT, but headed for a nearly 1% weekly climb. U.S. gold futures held steady at $1,979.70.
Gold, like many other assets, has been range-bound with traders unwilling to push too many boundaries with the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting just around the corner, said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst, KCM Trade.
Bullion is flitting between the support at $1,940 and resistance at $1977, and a slight pullback is natural "after a spike higher in terms of price consolidation and some profit-taking," Waterer added.
The dollar index hovered close to Thursday's lows. A weaker dollar makes gold less expensive for overseas buyers.
Focus now shifts to the U.S. consumer inflation report for May, due on June 13, after a jump in U.S. jobless claims, which will provide investors more clarity about the health of the world's largest economy.
The International Monetary Fund on Thursday urged the U.S. Fed and other global central banks to "stay the course" on their monetary policy paths and remain vigilant in combating inflation.
The overall trend in gold remains positive and prices are waiting for another trigger to move higher, said Kunal Shah, head of research at Nirmal Bang Commodities in Mumbai.
Markets are pricing in a 76% chance of the Fed standing pat next week, after having raised at every meeting since March 2022. Still, the odds of a 25 basis point rate hike in July is 51%.
Rate hikes raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.
Spot silver rose 0.5% to $24.3544 per ounce and palladium edged higher 0.2% to $1,364.54.
Platinum advanced 0.7% to $1,016.90, and was set to post a weekly gain after two weeks. - Reuters
