Gold hovers near 1-week low as dollar firms after US data

Gold lingered near a one-week low on Thursday following five consecutive sessions of declines, while the dollar sat atop mid-March highs after data showed the U.S. services sector unexpectedly gained steam in August.

FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold was up 0.1% to $1,917.99 per ounce by 0120 GMT, its lowest level since Aug. 29. U.S. gold futures fell 0.1% to $1,942.20.


* World stock indexes fell while the benchmark U.S. Treasury yield rose and the U.S. dollar hit its highest in six months after stronger-than-expected U.S. services sector data on Wednesday suggested inflation pressures remain.

* Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan Collins said while there are signs of progress in cooling inflation, the central bank should proceed carefully when it comes to its next monetary policy steps.

* European Central Bank policymakers warned investors that a rise in borrowing costs was among the options on the table next week.

* The Bank of England is "much nearer" to ending its run of interest rate increases, Governor Andrew Bailey said on Wednesday.

* Higher U.S. interest rates raise the opportunity cost of holding gold, which does not earn any interest.

* Policymakers expect persistently slower growth in China, perhaps even more sluggish than current consensus estimates, seeing its transition from an infrastructure- and investment-led economy to becoming consumption-driven as "difficult".

* SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.36% on Wednesday.

* Elsewhere, spot silver eased 0.3% to $23.15 per ounce, platinum gained 0.5% to $913.24 and palladium fell 0.4% to $1,210.35.

* Platinum will register a 2.2% bigger supply deficit than previously expected for 2023, driven by strong demand and flat supply, the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) said. DATA/EVENTS (GMT) 0600 UK Halifax House Price Index Aug 0900 EU GDP Growth Rate Q2 1230 US Initial Jobless Claims Weekly