• Gold prices dipped on Thursday, under pressure from a stronger U.S. dollar, although tensions between Britain and Russia limited the precious metal's decline a day after it hit a one-week high.
• The dollar rose versus a currency basket as traders, awaiting next week's Federal Reserve meeting, eyed data that showed the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week.
• Moscow said it would retaliate against London's move to expel 23 Russian diplomats over a nerve toxin attack on a Russian former double agent in Britain.
• "The headwinds gold faces are people starting to talk about the interest rate increase and the possibility of a fourth interest rate hike," said Chris Gaffney, president of world markets at EverBank.
• "Gold is finding support from the escalating political crisis between the UK and Russia," Commerzbank said in a note, but added it could face headwinds after the U.S. president's new economic adviser Larry Kudlow had spoken out in favor of a strong dollar.
• While some market participants said the dollar strengthened after Kudlow's comments, others questioned the net effect of his statements.
• "I think Kudlow's comments will probably support more of a trade war rhetoric than a stronger dollar," said a Hong Kong-based trader, adding "gold needs to close above the $1,330 level to start getting some traction."
• U.S. stocks opened higher, supported by strong economic data, although fears that Trump's decision to impose fresh tariffs on China may escalate into a trade war simmered in the background.
• Silver fell 0.5 percent at $16.42 per ounce after seeing a 9-day low of $16.35. Platinum fell 0.7 percent at $951.49 per ounce.
• Palladium dropped 0.4 percent at $983.20 per ounce after hitting $1,006.30 in the previous session, a high since March 1.
Reference: Reuters
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