Gold prices rise-----

Gold prices rose on Thursday as economic concerns returned to the fore and traders awaited US data for hints on the Federal Reserve's policy trajectory, reports Reuters.

Spot gold was up 0.4 per cent at $1,996.43 an ounce by 1210 GMT and US gold futures rose 0.5 per cent to $2,006.10. Stresses in the US banking system are helping gold prices, said StoneX analyst Rhona O'Connell, adding that a decision to raise the US debt ceiling had also triggered risk-aversion.

US government officials are so far unwilling to intervene in the First Republic Bank (FRC.N) rescue process, while the US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill to raise the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling.