Gold pulls away from one-month low after U.S. data, eyes Fed speeches

By Clara Denina

LONDON (Reuters) - Gold edged up on Monday, as the dollar retreated after weaker-than-expected U.S. data, but stayed close to a one-month low as investors focused on speeches by Federal Reserve officials that could give more clues on potential interest rate increases.

The dollar slightly fell versus a basket of currencies after data showed U.S. consumer spending rose marginally in February and overall inflation retreated. The Commerce Department also downwardly revised 0.1 percent gain in January.

Weaker U.S. data supports the view the Fed would raise interest rates at a gradual pace, weighing on the dollar and in turn helping gold.

Spot gold was up 0.2 percent at $1,218.62 an ounce by 1253 GMT, after touching a session low of $1,208.15, its cheapest since Feb. 23. The metal lost 3 percent last week, its biggest weekly loss since November on speculation that the next U.S. rate increase could come as soon as next month.

Liquidity was thin as London and many other gold markets were closed for the Easter Monday holiday.

"Gold's short-term technical trend has slightly deteriorated, with the $1,190-$1,200 level becoming a strong support area," said Carlo Alberto de Casa, ActivTrades chief analyst.

All eyes will now be on Fed Chair Janet Yellen, who is due to speak on the U.S. economy and monetary policy on Tuesday, for any indications on the number and timing of rate hikes this year.

Hawkish comments from several Federal Reserve officials last week put investors on guard for the possibility of at least two rates increases this year, triggering a widespread correction across commodities and bolstering the dollar, the currency in which commodities are denominated.

The market is also awaiting a speech by New York Fed President William Dudley on Thursday and U.S. non-farm payrolls data on Friday.

"A non-farm payrolls number above 200,000 could give the market enough confidence to price in two rate hikes this year, weighing on gold," ActivTrades' de Casa said.

Inflows into gold exchange-traded funds (ETF) continued, suggesting that some confidence in bullion remained.

Holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed ETF, rose to its highest since December 2013 at 26.48 million ounces on Thursday, the latest available data shows.

Hedge funds and money managers increased their bullish positions in COMEX gold in the week to March 22, when the metal rallied more than 1 percent after deadly bomb attacks hit Brussels, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on Friday.

Russia and Kazakhstan added to their bullion reserves in February, while Malaysia and Turkey cut their holdings, data from the International Monetary Fund showed on Friday.

Spot silver gained 0.6 percent to $15.23 an ounce, palladium fell 0.6 percent to $573.30 and platinum was unchanged at $946.50 an ounce.

(Additional reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr. in Manila, editing by Louise Heavens and Susan Fenton)