* COMEX gold speculators raise net long positions
* Holdings at SPDR Gold Trust rise 1.2% on Friday
* Palladium hits record high of $1,664.34/oz (Updates prices)
By Diptendu Lahiri
Sept 23 (Reuters) - Gold rose to its highest in more than a week on Monday, supported by Middle East tensions and uncertainty over U.S.-China trade talks, while palladium hit an all-time high.
Spot gold XAU= rose 0.2% to $1,519.56 per ounce at 0818 GMT per ounce, touching a high since Sept. 12.
U.S. gold futures GCcv1 rose 0.8 % to $1,527.20.
"No significant news is coming out of the trade war ... until and unless we have some clarity on the negotiations, gold will be supported," said Hareesh V, head of commodity research at Geojit Financial Services.
A U.S.-China trade breakthrough seemed unlikely after President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday he was "not looking" for a partial deal and Chinese officials cancelled goodwill visits to U.S. farmers. both sides later published positive statements. The U.S. Trade Representative's office described last week's talks as "productive" and China's Commerce Ministry called them "constructive." October's high-level talks remain on track. a immediate basis gold is trading between the range of$1,465-$1,550. If the trade talks fail gold may rally to $1,660 or even higher," Hareesh said.
The bullion has risen about 18% so far this year.
Tensions remained elevated in the Middle East after Washington ordered more troops to the Gulf region to strengthen Saudi Arabia's air and missile defences, following an attack on the kingdom's oil facilities. The United States has imposed more sanctions on Iran, penalising Iran's central bank. Arabia will appeal to a global gathering in New York this week for concerted action to punish and deter Iran after the strikes. dollar was nearly flat against a basket of currencies .DXY , while most Asian share markets slipped on Monday. USD/ MKTS/GLOB
Holdings at SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 1.2% to 894.15 tonnes on Friday. gold speculators raised net long position by 14,150 contracts to 261,878 in the week to Sept. 17, according to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data. palladium XPD= rose 0.8% to $1,655 per ounce, after hitting a record high at $1,664.34 earlier in the session.
"Healthy demand, constrained supply and challenging liquidity conditions are likely driving prices higher," UBS strategist Joni Teves wrote in a note.
"A breakdown of U.S.-China trade talks, deterioration in economic data and a pullback in equities from the highs presents downside risks for palladium over the remainder of the year."
Silver XAG= nearly 2% to $18.33 per ounce and platinum XPT= rose 0.8% to $953.05 per ounce.