LONDON: Gold held near 9-month lows on Wednesday, weighed down by broad-based strength in the dollar on growing expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve is set to tighten monetary policy before other major central banks.
Other precious metals also languished, with platinum the biggest faller, sliding to a five-year low at $1,256.30 an ounce early in the session.
Spot gold was at $1,209.71 an ounce at 1142 GMT, little changed from late Tuesday, after earlier slipping to within 10 cents of the previous day's 9-month low at $1,204.40. U.S. gold futures for December delivery were down $1.30 an ounce at $1,210.30.
"The weight of selling is such that I still see lower prices," Societe Generale analyst Robin Bhar said. "We have the stronger dollar and investor disinterest, and if we drop below $1,200 or $1,180, you'll get the short sellers moving in because momentum will be accelerating.
"It's difficult to see how things are going to reverse - there's an old market saying, don't catch a falling knife."
The dollar rose above 110 yen for the first time in six years and held near a two-year peak against the euro on Wednesday, as investors added to bets that U.S. data will drive the Federal Reserve to tighten policy.
A stronger dollar typically pressures assets priced in the U.S. currency, such as commodities. Tightening monetary policy and the prospect of higher interest rates also raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding precious metals.
Traders are awaiting Thursday's European Central Bank meeting and key U.S. payrolls data on Friday for further clues on the direction of monetary policy. Wednesday's U.S. ADP jobs data will be closely eyed ahead of that, analysts say.
CHINESE MARKETS CLOSE FOR GOLDEN WEEK
Reflecting waning investor sentiment, holdings in the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Shares, fell 2.39 tonnes on Tuesday to 769.86 tonnes, the lowest since December 2008.
Markets in top bullion buyer China are closed for a week from Wednesday for the National Day holiday, weakening support for gold during Asian trading hours and potentially accelerating a fall below $1,200.
Investors were also watching the political unrest in Hong Kong for its impact on equities and possible safe-haven bids for gold.
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters thronged the streets of Hong Kong on Wednesday, ratcheting up pressure on the pro-Beijing government.
Silver was up 0.7 percent at $17.06 an ounce, while spot palladium was down 0.4 percent at $765.50 an ounce.
Spot platinum was down 2.1 percent at $1,264.50 an ounce by 1142 GMT. It tumbled 12.7 percent in the last quarter, taking little support from a five-month strike in major producer South Africa earlier this year.
"Our analysis of above-ground platinum and palladium inventory published in June last year indicates that this inventory is indeed high," Standard Bank said in a note on Wednesday.
"While some of this inventory would have reduced due to the large deficits anticipated this year, levels remain high. As a result, on balance, the bias may lie towards having to wait longer before PGM prices move higher on a sustainable basis."
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