Gold price rises on dollar weakness before U.S. inflation data

New York (Oct 12)  Gold rose to its highest level in two weeks on a softer dollar, with U.S inflation figures due on
Friday expected to provide more clues on monetary policy.

In its fifth straight session of gains, spot gold was up 0.2 percent at $1,294.72 an ounce by 1013 GMT, after earlier
hitting $1,297.40. U.S. gold futures climbed 0.7 percent to $1,298 per ounce.

"If inflation were to rise more than expected or at least meet expectation ... this could underpin the dollar which could
undermine gold," Fawad Razaqzada, an analyst at FOREX.com, said.

Minutes from a September meeting by the U.S. Federal Reserve showed policymakers had a prolonged debate about the prospects
of a pickup in inflation and slowing the path of future interest rate rises if it did not.           
    The dollar hit its lowest in over two-weeks against a basket
of currencies on Thursday following the news.      
    Gold is highly sensitive to rising interest rates, as these
tend to boost the dollar, in which the metal is priced.
    Several policymakers said they would focus on upcoming
inflation data over the next few months when deciding on the
central bank's future rate hike path.
    Political uncertainty also helped to support gold, which
investors turn to during periods of turmoil, analysts said.
    "If people are not too worried about the Fed's policy, we
have North Korea. Surely, geopolitical tensions are supporting
prices ... we may try $1,300 next week," Yuichi Ikemizu, Tokyo
branch manager at CIBC Standard Bank, said.
    Silver rose 0.3 percent to $17.21 an ounce after
touching a three-week high.
    Platinum was 0.3 percent higher at $930.50 an ounce,
after marking an over two-week high earlier in the session.
    Palladium added 0.3 percent to $961,50, after
touching its best since Sept. 6 at $966.40 an ounce.
    Discussions over a possible substitution between platinum
group metals in auto catalysts will likely gather pace if the
palladium continues to trade at a premium to the platinum, Bank
of America Merrill Lynch said in a note earlier this month.

Reuters