* Palladium peaks at 1,506.50/oz
* Platinum rises to 3-month high
* Asian equities scale 5-month peak
* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns: http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl
By K. Sathya Narayanan
Feb 25 (Reuters) - Gold prices edged up on Monday as the dollar fell against the yuan after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would delay an increase in tariffs on Chinese goods, while palladium surged to a record high.
A strong yuan makes bullion cheaper for world's leading consumer- China.
The offshore yuan strengthened 0.2 percent to 6.689 yuan CNH= against the dollar, after hitting its highest level since mid-July. USD/
Trump said on Sunday that he would delay an increase in tariffs on Chinese goods that had been scheduled for later this week, citing "substantial progress" in Sino-U.S. trade talks over the weekend, and that he and his Chinese counterpart would meet to seal a deal if progress continued. gold XAU= rose 0.2 percent to $1,330.26 per ounce at 0655 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCv1 were steady at $1,332.70.
Trump's extension of tariff deadline has weakened the dollar, driving gold up, said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst, OANDA.
"Gold, as it moves into the European and New York trading session, might come under pressure from the stock market," Halley said, adding that there won't be any sustained downward pressure until there is more information on the trade deal.
Asian shares scaled a 5-month peak after Trump's decision to extend the deadline improved appetite for riskier assets. MKTS/GLOB
Gains in equity markets tend to decrease appeal for gold, considered a safe store of value during economic and political uncertainty.
"Gold prices, though hinting for a looming bearish correction on risk-on market sentiments, will remain firmly supported on rising economic uncertainties and heightened geopolitical risks in 2019," Benjamin Lu, an analyst with Singapore-based Phillip Futures said in a note.
On the technical front, gold may retest a support at $1,321 per ounce, a break below which could cause a loss to $1,311, according to Reuters analyst Wang Tao. TECH/C
Meanwhile, spot palladium XPD= rose as much as $1,507.50 per ounce, propelled by a stark supply deficit, and was last up 0.5 percent at $1,506.50.
Platinum XPT= , which rose to its highest since late November, was up 0.4 percent at $846.50 per ounce.
The platinum group metals (PGM) continued to rise as supply risks increased after South Africa's Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) planned to extend a strike from Sibayne Gold to other PGM producers in the country, ANZ analysts said in a research note.
The AMCU has been on strike at Sibanye's bullion operations since mid-November and plans to extend the strike to its platinum mines as well as all other mines where the AMCU has members. spot silver XAG= rose 0.4 percent to $15.98 per ounce.