* Dollar holding near two-month peak
* Robust U.S. housing data supports case for near-term Fed
rate hike
* Palladium, silver, platinum hit multi-week lows
(Updates prices)
By Koustav Samanta
BENGALURU, May 25 (Reuters) - Gold dropped to a seven-week
low on Wednesday, driven by expectations of an early interest
rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Bullion has taken a beating from the prospect of an imminent
rate increase, as indicated by Fed meeting minutes released last
week. Gold is sensitive to interest rates, gains in which raise
the opportunity cost of holding the non-interest-yielding asset.
Spot gold XAU= was down 0.2 percent at $1,223.96 per ounce
by 0611 GMT. The metal fell to $1,222.85 earlier in the session,
its lowest since April 7.
U.S. gold futures GCcv1 dipped 0.4 percent to $1,224.30.
"I think gold prices will touch the $1,200 level in the
coming few days. The change in rate hike expectations is still
the major theme, but after the end of June the overall sentiment
on the rate hike will be pretty much done," said Mark To, head
of research at Hong Kong's Wing Fung Financial Group.
Adding to the woes of the safe-haven bullion, the dollar
stood near a two-month peak against a basket of major currencies
on Wednesday after robust U.S. housing data supported the case
for the Fed to raise rates in the near term. USD/
A stronger greenback makes dollar-denominated gold more
expensive for holders of other currencies.
The growing confidence towards a pick-up in U.S. economic
growth got a boost on Tuesday as official data suggested new
U.S. single-family home sales have hit the highest in eight
years.
The recent negative undertone for gold notwithstanding, some
analysts believe a rate increase as early as June seems unlikely
and would be discounted by traders, stabilising the yellow
metal.
"Despite the short term negative pullback, gold is still a
strong 2016 performer against a range of alternative assets and
these levels are an enticing entry price for long-term bulls,"
said MKS Group trader James Gardiner.
Holdings in SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest
gold-backed exchange-traded fund, fell 0.44 percent to 868.66
tonnes on Tuesday, the first decline in a month. GOL/ETF
Among other precious metals, spot silver XAG= rose 0.2
percent, to $16.24 an ounce. It dipped as low as $16.14 earlier
in the session, its lowest in five weeks.
Spot palladium XPD= rose 0.4 percent, to $534.23 an ounce,
after hitting a twelve-week low of $528.97 earlier in the day.
Spot platinum XPT= was trading at $995 per ounce after
touching a five-week trough of $992.