Gold declines due to uncertainties

NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters): Gold fell on Monday as uncertainties around the US-China trade war drove some investors to the safety of the dollar, pressuring assets priced in the US currency.

Autocatalyst metal palladium however rallied to another record high, with expectations for a deficit this year helping it to breach the $1,700 an ounce level for the first time.

Spot gold fell 0.4 per cent to $1,490 per ounce at 0743 GMT, after prices hit $1,486.60 in the previous session, their lowest since Sept. 18. US gold futures dipped 0.6 per cent to $1,496.60 per ounce.

The dollar index held near its highest in a week.

"In the short term, investors are sliding towards a dollar-denominated safe-haven appeal," said AxiTrader market strategist Stephen Innes.

European and Asian stock markets, including China's, were little changed on Monday, shrugging off news that the US administration is considering delisting Chinese companies from US stock exchanges.

The White House is not contemplating such a move at this time, Bloomberg quoted Treasury spokeswoman Monica Crowley as saying on Saturday, after Reuters reported on Friday the US administration was considering the measure.