Gold prices rose on Thursday as tensions between the United States and China over a Hong Kong security law escalated, while fresh stimulus measures by several economies to mitigate the coronavirus fallout also lent support.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Spot gold was up 0.2% at $1,711.35 per ounce, as of 1250 GMT, after touching a two-week low on Wednesday. U.S. gold futures GCv1 fell 0.2% to $1,723.60.

* U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Hong Kong no longer qualifies for its special status under the U.S. law, dealing a blow to its status as a financial hub. 

* U.S. President Donald Trump has a long list of possible responses to China's plans to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, including visa and economic sanctions, said David Stilwell, assistant Secretary of State for East Asia. 

* The European Union unveiled a 750 billion euro ($826.13 billion) plan on Wednesday to prop up economies, lifting the demand for safe-haven assets such as gold. 

* Stimulus measures to limit the economic damage have supported gold, which is often considered a hedge against inflation and currency debasement.

* Japan approved a fresh $1.1 trillion stimulus package; while sources said India may need to pump nearly $20 billon into its state banks. 

* A Federal Reserve report on Wednesday implied that U.S. businesses continued to be hammered into the middle of May. 

* SPDR Gold Trust GLD holdings, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 0.2% to 1,119.05 tonnes on Wednesday. 

* Palladium rose 0.2% to $1,938.76 per ounce and platinum gained 1.9% to $834.19, while silver fell 0.4% to $17.24.

DATA/EVENTS (GMT) 0900 EU Consumer Confid. Final May 1200 Germany CPI Prelim YY May 1230 US GDP 2nd Estimate Q1 1230 US Initial Jobless Claims Weekly

($1 = 0.9079 euros)

 

(Reporting by Harshith Aranya in Bengaluru, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) ((harshith.aranya@thomsonreuters.com; Within U.S. +1 651 848 5832, Outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2599; Reuters Messaging: harshith.aranya.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))