* Traders focus on Friday’s U.S. non-farm payrolls
* U.S. financial markets still closed by Hurricane Sandy
* Indian gold importers buy on dips before festivals
* Rubber bullets fired at Amplats miners in South Africa
By David Brough
LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Gold prices firmed on Tuesday as
stock markets rose and the dollar weakened, but moves were
limited as New York markets remained closed due to Hurricane
Sandy, and ahead of a key U.S. jobs report due later this week.
Gold took some support from strength in European shares,
which were boosted by well-received company reports from BP and
UBS, and the euro, after data showed the Spanish economy
contracted at a slightly slower rate than forecast in September.
Spot gold was at $1,710.4 at 1557 GMT, up 0.07
percent, while U.S. gold futures for December rose $2.50
to $1,711.20.
But the metal remains on course for its biggest monthly loss
since May as a boost from the Federal Reserve’s latest monetary
stimulus plan – a potentially inflationary move which would also
maintain pressure on interest rates – petered out.
Continued…
