(Corrects headline to show platinum at highest in 30 months,
not years)
SINGAPORE, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Spot gold prices firmed a
touch on Wednesday, supported by steady physical demand in Asia
and strength in the euro currency, while platinum hit a 30-month
high on the improved economic outlook.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold rose by 0.4 percent to $1,372.6 an ounce
by 0056 GMT.
* U.S. gold futures gained 0.3 percent to $1,372.
* Spot platinum rose to $1,832 an ounce, its highest
since July 2008, before easing to $1,830.74.
* Strong data from Germany sent the euro to a one-month high
on Tuesday, and the single currency stood on a firm footing. The
dollar index edged lower.
* German investors are increasingly optimistic about the
economy and half expect higher interest rates by July, a survey
showed, highlighting the two-speed euro zone recovery and the
dilemma it creates for the ECB.
* Holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust , the world's largest
gold-backed exchange-traded fund, fell 2.428 tonnes to 1,256.897
tonnes by Jan 18.
* Holdings in the iShares Silver Trust , the world's
largest silver-backed exchange-traded fund, fell more than one
percent to 10,585.95 tonnes by Jan 18, lowest since early
November.
* Spot silver rose by nearly one percent to $29.11.
MARKET NEWS
* U.S. stocks gained on Tuesday, overcoming weak Citigroup
results and concerns circling Apple after news of Chief
Executive Steve Jobs' medical leave.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
1200 U.S. Mortgage index Weekly
1245 U.S. ICSC chain stores yy Weekly
1330 U.S. House starts mm: change Dec
1300 U.S. Goldman Sachs earnings Q4
1330 U.S. Housing starts number mm Dec
1355 U.S. Redbook mm Weekly
2130 Australia BHP production Q4
RELATED NEWS
> Deals, currency spat accompany China's Hu to US
> Wall St up; Google, Caterpillar offset Apple drop
> Europe goes slow on rescue fund, stress tests
> US homebuilder sentiment unchanged in January
> NY Fed mfg growth slower than expected in Jan
> S&P says no significant chance of US default
> Bank of Canada holds rates, signals extended pause
> Euro zone inflation to rise, then moderate-Weber
> Bullish German investors see earlier ECB hike
> Europe goes slow on rescue fund, stress tests
> UK inflation leaps to 8-mo high, pressure on BoE
> Brent rises on supply issues while US oil slips
> Wage, inflation risks loom after Australia floods
PRICES
Precious metals prices 0056 GMT
Metal Last Change Pct chg YTD pct chg Turnover
Spot Gold 1372.60 5.11 +0.37 -3.30
Spot Silver 29.11 0.27 +0.94 -5.67
Spot Platinum 1830.74 7.24 +0.40 3.58
Spot Palladium 814.22 3.75 +0.46 1.84
TOCOM Gold 3660.00 24.00 +0.66 -1.85 21756
TOCOM Platinum 4923.00 68.00 +1.40 4.83 8095
TOCOM Silver 77.60 1.90 +2.51 -4.20 791
TOCOM Palladium 2185.00 69.00 +3.26 4.20 329
Euro/Dollar 1.3393
Dollar/Yen 82.59
TOCOM prices in yen per gram. Spot prices in $ per ounce.
(Reporting by Rujun Shen; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Reuters
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