Gold holds steady -

Gold prices steadied above the key $2,000 level on Wednesday, buoyed by expectations of the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts next year, while investors awaited US inflation numbers due later in the week, reports Reuters.
Spot gold was little changed at $2,033.89 per ounce, as of 1215 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.2 per cent to $2,047.00.
"After the big move, the market is a bit in a wait-and-see mode. It may also be related to lower activity as we approach the holiday period," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.
"Market participants will, therefore, watch data which influences the monetary policy of the Fed, like inflation and job data."
The November core personal consumption expenditure (PCE) index report, the Fed's preferred measure of underlying inflation is due on Friday. Last week, the Fed indicated its tightening phase was concluding and signaled that rate cuts may materialize in 2024.
In other metals, spot silver lost 0.2 per cent to $23.99 per ounce, while platinum was down by 0.5 per cent to $949.63. Palladium fell 2.1 per cent to $1,198.29.