MANILA, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Gold steadied near a 1-1/2-week
peak at just below $1,100 an ounce early on Monday, with
investors eyeing whether equities will come under renewed
pressure and refresh safe-haven demand for bullion.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was little changed at $1,098.41 an ounce
by 0044 GMT, after gaining around 0.9 percent last week.
* The precious metal had benefitted from investor aversion
towards risky assets that has hit global stocks and crude oil.
It peaked at $1,109.20 last week, its loftiest since Jan. 8.
* U.S. gold for February delivery GCcv1 gained 0.2 percent
to $1,098.50 an ounce.
* Hedge funds and money managers increased their bullish
bets in COMEX gold in the week to Jan. 19, and also boosted
their bullish bets in silver to the highest in more than two
months, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on
Friday.
* SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest gold-backed
exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose to 664.17 tonnes on
Friday from 662.09 tonnes on Thursday. GOL/ETF
* U.S. home resales rebounded strongly in December from a
19-month low and prices surged, indicating the housing market
recovery remained intact despite signs of a sharp deceleration
in economic growth in recent months.
* For the top stories on metals and other news, click
TOP/MTL or GOL
MARKET NEWS
* Asian stocks edged higher, with investors relieved after
seeing Wall Street rally on Friday on the back of a sharp rise
in crude oil prices. MKTS/GLOB
* The dollar weakened but remained well off recent lows as
markets started the week on a calmer note, and investors turned
their attention to upcoming central bank meetings. USD/
DATA AHEAD (GMT)
0900 Germany Ifo business climate Jan
0900 Italy Industrial orders Nov
1530 U.S. Dallas Fed manufacturing index Jan