* Global stocks still under pressure from growth fears
* Crude oil prices slide to lowest since 2003
* GRAPHIC-Commodities 2016: http://link.reuters.com/reb25t
(Updates throughout, changes dateline, pvs MANILA)
By Jan Harvey
LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Gold edged higher on Monday as
crude oil prices slid to 12-year lows and European stocks fell
on persistent worries about global growth, prompting investors
to seek assets considered a safe store of value.
Gains were limited, however, as the dollar firmed and oil
inched up from earlier lows, pointing to a slight cooling of the
risk aversion that lifted gold 1 percent on Friday.
Spot gold XAU= was up 0.1 percent at $1,089.90 an ounce at
1035 GMT, while U.S. gold futures GCv1 for February delivery
were down 90 cents at $1,089.80.
Prices have risen nearly 3 percent so far this year after
weak economic data in China and a fresh move lower in the yuan
in early January prompted a sell-off in Chinese stocks, which
spilled over into global markets.
"There is always a very negative correlation with gold when
you have turmoil in stock markets," LBBW analyst Thorsten
Proettel said.
"Right now we are seeing consolidation, but as we shift
perspective towards February and March, this swing to higher
prices will go on."
Oil prices hit their lowest since late 2003 as the market
braced for additional Iranian exports after the lifting of
sanctions against the country over the weekend. O/R
European shares fell 0.1 percent on Monday and Asian
equities tumbled to their lowest since 2011 overnight as
investors shunned risky assets after weak U.S. economic data.
MKTS/GLOB
U.S. retail sales fell in December along with industrial
production.
The renewed weakness in the world's top economy raises
doubts about whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest
rates again in March.
"Clearly there are growing doubts among market participants
that the U.S. Federal Reserve will implement a further rate hike
in March," Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) said in a note.
"If interest rates are not raised in the short term, the
opportunity costs of holding gold will remain low for longer."
Hedge funds and money managers switched to their first
bullish bet in COMEX gold in two months in the week to Jan. 12,
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on Friday.
Platinum fell to a seven-year low overnight at $817.50, hurt
by fears over global growth. As a largely industrial metal,
heavily used by the auto sector in the manufacturing of
catalytic converters, it is more exposed than gold to concerns
over economic weakness.
Platinum XPT= was down 0.9 percent at $821.66 an ounce,
silver XAG= fell by 0.2 percent to $13.89 and palladium XPD=
was 0.3 percent lower at $489.47.