<p>Feb 19 (Reuters) - Gold prices edged lower on Thursday after a more than 2% gain in the previous session, as the U.S. dollar firmed ahead of a key inflation report due later this week that could provide more cues on the U.S. interest rate trajectory.</p>
<h3>FUNDAMENTALS</h3>
<ul>
<li>Spot gold  (XAU=)  dipped 0.4% to $4,961.57 per ounce by 0112 GMT, after gaining 2.1% in the previous session.</li>
<li>U.S. gold futures  (GCcv1)  for April delivery were down 0.6% at $4,981.</li>
<li>The dollar hit its highest level in more than a week,  making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for other currency holders.  (USD/)</li>
<li>Mainland Chinese, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holidays, which means low volumes and possibly volatile moves, traders said.</li>
<li>U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers were in near-unanimous agreement to keep interest rates on hold at their meeting last month, but remained split over their next steps, with “several” open to rate hikes if inflation remains elevated, others inclined to support further cuts if inflation recedes.</li>
<li>Markets currently expect three 25-basis-point rate cuts this year, according to CME’s FedWatch Tool.  (FEDWATCH)</li>
<li>Investors now await the weekly jobless claims report due later in the day and the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) data, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, due on Friday for more cues on monetary policy. Non-yielding bullion tends to do well in low-interest-rate environments.</li>
<li>Gold gained more than 2% on Wednesday on safe-haven demand as two days of peace talks in Geneva between Ukraine and Russia ended without a breakthrough. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was dissatisfied with the outcome, while Washington reported “meaningful progress”.</li>
<li>Spot silver  (XAG=)  eased 0.5% to $76.83 per ounce after dropping more than 5% on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Spot platinum  (XPT=)  edged 0.1% down to $2,069.35 per ounce, while palladium  (XPD=)  lost 0.5% to $1,707.53.</li>
</ul>
<h3>DATA/EVENTS (GMT)</h3>
<p>1330  US   International Trade        Dec</p>
<p>1330  US   Initial Jobless Clm        Weekly</p>
<p>1330  US   Philly Fed Business Indx   Feb</p>
<p>1500  EU   Consume Confid. Flash      Feb</p>

601899

<p>Gold prices fell 0.4% to $4,961.57 per ounce as the U.S. dollar strengthened ahead of key inflation data. U.S. gold futures for April delivery dropped 0.6% to $4,981. The dollar's rise made gold more expensive for foreign buyers. Markets expect three 25-basis-point rate cuts this year, while investors await jobless claims and PCE data for insights on monetary policy. Gold had previously gained over 2% due to safe-haven demand amid stalled peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.</p>

PRECIOUS-Gold edges down as dollar firms; inflation data in focus