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(Reuters) - Gold edged lower on Wednesday, extending a nearly 2 percent tumble in the previous session, as the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's last policy meeting showed diminishing appetite for further monetary stimulus. Expectations of another round of quantitative easing had boosted gold's appeal as a hedge against inflation and pushed prices to $1,790.30 in February, the highest level since last November. Policymakers at the U.S. central bank believed that the gradually improving economy has lessened the need for more monetary easing, even though they remained cautious about a broad pickup in economic activities. The minutes came just a week after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke hinted at the possibility of further stimulus, which drove stocks and commodities higher and cut the ...

A higher-than-expected number of Americans filing for U.S. jobless claims dampened investor sentiment on Thursday, keeping global stocks lower and raising the appeal of safe-haven government debt. New U.S. claims for jobless benefits fell slightly last week, according to the Labor Department, but missed forecasts of a greater decline, while the prior week's number was revised up. After a period of improvement, some investors said the jobs numbers showed worrisome signs of stalling. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 359,000, the lowest level since April 2008. A report on the Commerce Department's final estimate of gross domestic product showed that the economy expanded 3 percent in the fourth quarter, as expected. "The data today is ...

The yen advanced against the dollar and the euro on Wednesday on weaker-than-expected factory orders and fiscal year-end buying from Japanese exporters, though gains were seen fading next week on outlooks for ultra-loose monetary policy in Japan. The Japanese currency extended its advance against the dollar after data showed new orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rose less than expected in February and a gauge of future business investment also fell short of forecasts. "The most important takeaway from durable goods is that the recovery in the U.S. economy and the momentum is not as strong as many people had hoped," said Kathy Lien, director of FX research at GFT in Jersey City. "That's why we're seeing a bit of weakness in the dollar and a mild bit of risk aversion." The dollar ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR "Figures clearly show that the recession in the euro zone is far from over" - Peter Vanden Houte, an economist at ING Group Euro area services and manufacturing output fell by more than expected this month, a sign the economy has slipped into recession. USD "Decline in unemployment claims is another indication that the labor market is healing. That's good news for the March payroll report" - Gus Faucher, a senior economist at PNC Financial Services The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits fell to 348 thousand in the week ended March 17 from the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. GBP "The data puts a real dent in hopes that the consumer may be perking up appreciably" - Howard Archer, an economist at IHS Global Insight U.K. ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR Euro Area region faced a faster contraction in private sector activity in March, highlighting worries the area may fall back into downturn. Composite PMI dropped from 49.3 in previous month to 48.7 in March reaching three month record low. Economists questioned by Marketwatch predicted the composite PMI to climb to 49.6. Service PMI fell from 48.8 to 48.7 and manufacturing index edged down from 49.0 to 47.7. USD After a slight decline to 353K two weeks ago, US unemployment claims kept sliding to a four-year-low at 348K last week. Economists say that this reading points to a robust recovery of the US labor market and the economy in general. GBP UK retail sales declined more than analysts predicted in previous month as households curbed spending. Retail sales ...

(Reuters) - Gold fell on Tuesday, on track to snap a three-day winning streak, amid selling prompted by lower crude oil and U.S. equity markets and a spate of positive U.S. economic data that eroded hopes of more U.S. monetary easing. Spot gold narrowed its losses by 1:18 p.m. EDT/5:18 p.m. GMT to $1,652.21 an ounce from $1,660.40 late Monday, having slid by nearly 3 percent so far this month. The COMEX April gold contract was down $20.1, or 1.2 percent at $1,647.1 per ounce. The yellow metal, which has been following riskier assets such as stocks, also fell after a disappointing U.S. housing starts report. "Money managers are reallocating capital into risk assets they had been shying away from, while liquidating some of their gold holdings (as) the economic picture painted in the ...

(Reuters) - The yen stayed on the defensive on Monday with the euro reaching a fresh five-month high against the Japanese currency, while the dollar nursed losses following a setback late last week. The euro rose as high as 110.15 yen at one point on trading platform EBS, its highest level since late October. It later pared its gains and was last changing hands at 109.81 yen, down 0.1 percent from late U.S. trade on Friday. In another sign of the yen's recent weakness, the Australian dollar rose to 88.62 yen, its highest level since May 2011. The Australian dollar last stood at 88.37 yen, up 0.1 percent from late U.S. trade on Friday. The yen's status as the currency of choice in funding carry trades was cemented last month after a surprise easing by the Bank of Japan. Additionally, ...

(Reuters) - Gold edged up on Thursday, after shedding nearly 2 percent the day before and was set for its worst weekly performance in three months, as growing investor optimism on the outlook for the U.S. economy boosted the dollar and riskier assets like stocks. Investors have stuck with gold for now, pushing holdings of the metal in the world's largest exchange-traded products (ETPs) to record highs this week, while in Asia's purchasing hot-spots, the drop in price encouraged a strong revival in demand, particularly in top consumer India. The sharp rise in Treasury yields this week has also tempered gold, because of the knock-on effect on the dollar, which tends to gain in a rising rate-environment. Ten-year Treasury yields were set for their largest weekly rise since early July 2011 ...

(Reuters) - Gold regained some strength on Thursday after a drop in the previous session attracted bargain hunters, but a strong dollar and fading expectations of more monetary easing in the United States made the metal vulnerable to more selling. The physical market lacked activity as jewelers looked for a bargain, while bullion holders shifted their money into equities after strong U.S. economic data and accommodative monetary policies by global central banks sent investors back into risk assets. Spot gold added $4.69 an ounce to $1,646.79 an ounce by 0339 GMT. Gold extended losses and fell more than 2 percent on Wednesday -- a day after the Federal Reserve offered no clues on further easing. "Sentiment is of course very bad, I can say. After slipping below $1,650, it may go down ...