Int'l gold gains on speculation of further stimulus by China

Gold today climbed on speculation slowing growth in China will spur policymakers to add to stimulus measures.

Gold rose 0.6% to $1,581.20 an ounce and silver climbed 1% to $27.44 an ounce.

Gold slid to this month's low yesterday after Federal Reserve minutes disappointed investors seeking a more definitive signal for further quantitative-easing measures.

Data today showed China's growth slowed for a sixth quarter to the weakest pace since the global financial crisis, putting pressure on Premier Wen Jiabao to boost stimulus to secure a second-half economic rebound.

Holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust, the biggest bullion- backed exchange-traded product, fell 1.5 tonne to 1,269.7 tonne yesterday, the lowest level since May 23.