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Gold prices rose on Thursday as an inverted U.S. bond yield curve alarmed investors about rising recession risks, while the protracted Sino-U.S. trade war added to fears of a global economic slowdown, increasing the appeal for safe-haven assets.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold was up 0.3% at $1,520.19 per ounce at 0100 GMT.
* U.S. gold futures fell 0.1% to $1,526.80 an ounce.
* The U.S. Treasury yield curve temporarily inverted on Wednesday for the first time since 2007, an indication that is widely seen by investors as a sign of an upcoming U.S. recession.
* Economic data from China and Germany suggested a slowing global economy, hit by the unabating U.S.-China trade war, Brexit and geopolitical tensions.
* On Wednesday, U.S. officials said China has made no trade concessions after U.S. President Donald Trump postponed the 10% tariffs on over $150 billion worth of Chinese imports, the latest sign that efforts to reach a trade deal were going nowhere.
* The MSCI All Country World Price index, which incorporates readings of 49 equity markets across the world, shed 2.1% to its lowest level since June 4.
* The dollar index, which measures its value against a basket of six major currencies, was little changed after a 0.2% gain on Wednesday.
* Investors are focused on the Federal Reserve's annual symposium next week. Traders see an about 74% chance of a 25 basis-point rate cut by the Fed this September.
* SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.91% to 844.29 tonnes on Wednesday.
DATA AHEAD (GMT)
* 0130 Australia Employment July
* 0830 UK Retail Sales MM, YY July
* 1000 EU Reserve Assets Total July
* 1230 US Initial Jobless Claims Weekly
* 1230 US Philly Fed Business Index August
* 1230 US Retail Sales MM July
* 1315 US Industrial Production MM July
(Reporting by Harshith Aranya in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
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