Aug 9 (Reuters) - Gold prices rose on Friday, holding above the key $1,500 per ounce pivot, as fresh concerns about the U.S.-China trade dispute and worries over global economic slowdown lifted demand for the safe-haven metal.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was up 0.3% at $1,504.22 per ounce as of 0124 GMT.
* The metal has risen more than 4% so far this week, putting it on track for its second consecutive weekly gain.
* U.S. gold futures GCcv1 rose 0.4% to $1,515.10 an ounce.
* Trade tensions between the United States and China further escalated after a report that Washington is delaying a decision about licenses for U.S. firms to restart trade with Huawei Technologies. HWT.UL .,
* Meanwhile, U.S. economic data pointed to a robust labour market as the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, allaying some worries about the potential for a recession and helping U.S. Treasury yields rise. US/
* Central banks in New Zealand, Thailand and India stunned financial markets on Wednesday with a series of surprising interest rate cuts and pointing to policymakers' dwindling ammunition to fight off a downturn. On Thursday, the Philippine central bank joined the bandwagon and cut its key policy rates, whilst keeping the door open for further easing. The dollar index .DXY was down 0.1% and was heading for its first weekly decline in four. USD/
* SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.66% to 839.85 tonnes on Thursday from 845.42 tonnes on Wednesday. GOL/ETF
* Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO , GOLD.N is looking to sell its Tongon gold mine in the Ivory Coast and is working with Bank of Nova Scotia BNS.TO to identify buyers, Bloomberg said on Thursday. AHEAD (GMT)
* 0130 China PPI YY
July
* 0130 China CPI YY
July
* 0830 UK
Manufacturing Output MM
June
* 0830 UK
GDP Prelim QQ, YY
Q2
* N/A China M2 Money Supply YY
July