Gold edges higher as dollar slips--

Gold prices rose on Monday as the dollar softened, while investors turned cautious ahead of key economic data that could shed light on the Federal Reserve's potential rate cut trajectory, reports Reuters.

Spot gold rose 0.4 per cent to $2,335.40 per ounce, as of 1128 GMT. Prices registered a more than 4 per cent gain in the second quarter. US gold futures gained 0.3 per cent to $2,345.70.

The dollar fell 0.2 per cent against its rivals, making gold attractive for holders of other currencies.

Investor focus now shifts to remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday, followed by minutes from the Fed's latest policy meeting on Wednesday and US nonfarm payrolls data due on Friday.

"Powell is likely to stick to a data-dependent stance, so should payrolls later this week come in softer, it could again lift gold prices," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said, adding that gold will soar to $2,600 by the end of the year, boosted by Fed rate cuts.

Spot silver was up 0.6 per cent at $29.29, platinum fell 1.2 per cent to $981.79 and palladium gained 1.3 per cent to $985.20.