FUNDAMENTALS
Spot gold rose 0.1% to $ 1,637.80 an ounce at 0059 GMT.
The US gold futures contract fell 0.2% to $ 1,693.10.
Asian stocks were looking to recover for a fourth consecutive session as US markets soared and another dose of central bank stimulus provided a boost to the global economic outlook.
Service sector activity in the US peaked in a year in February, according to data, suggesting a strong economy before a recent escalation of fears of recession triggered by the epidemic that caused a decline emergency interest rates.
There are signs that the epidemic has begun to weigh on the business climate in the United States, a Federal Reserve report showed, even though the economy has grown at a moderate to moderate pace over the past few years. last weeks.
The global spread of the virus has dashed hopes for stronger growth this year and will keep global production gains in 2020 at their slowest pace since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, said the managing director of the International Monetary Fund. .
The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved an $ 8.3 billion funding bill to combat the spread of the virus on Wednesday, sending emergency legislation to the Senate.
The Bank of England should wait until there is more economic clarity on the epidemic before making any decision to cut interest rates, said its next governor, Andrew Bailey.
Eurozone businesses largely weathered the impact of the virus in February, growing at their fastest pace in six months, although a survey released on Wednesday suggests gloomy prospects, with demand falling. export and supply chain disruptions.
Mainland China on Wednesday recorded 139 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections, the country’s national health commission announced on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 80,409 to date.
Palladium slipped 0.2% to $ 2,572.87 an ounce, while platinum remained stable at $ 872.40.
Silver rose 0.3% to $ 17.22 an ounce.