· Gold eased on Thursday as investors booked some profit from the metal’s strong run this week, but bullion held near a two-week peak supported by concerns over an economic slowdown, as major central banks retained a dovish policy stance.

· Spot gold was down 1.30 percent at $1,290.855 per ounce. It touched its highest since March 28 at $1,310.50 on Wednesday.

· U.S. gold futures settled $20.60 lower at $1,293.30. Spot prices have rebounded from a near 10-week low touched last week at $1,280.59.

· Gold is being pressured by some profit-taking following the past week’s gains, especially with the climb above $1,300, OANDA senior market analyst Craig Erlam said.

· “One of the reasons we are trading around $1,300 levels is the dovish stance of central banks,” he said.

· The dollar was little changed against rival currencies, hovering near a two-week low after the U.S. Federal Reserve’s minutes cemented the central bank’s dovish policy stance amid risks of a global economic slowdown.

· European Central Bank President Mario Draghi raised the prospect of more support for the struggling euro zone economy on Wednesday if its slowdown persisted, and kept its ultra-easy monetary policy unchanged.

· Low interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion, widely viewed as a safe investment during times of political and economic uncertainty.

· World stock markets moved away from six-month highs as investors weighed warning signs over growth from major central banks.

· “The yellow metal should see support toward $1,300-$1,305, while a consolidated break through $1,310 should see further interest,” MKS traders said in a note.

· Traders are also closely following developments in Brexit after European Union leaders gave Britain six more months to leave the bloc.

· Also on investors’ radar is U.S.-China trade, with Washington and Beijing having largely agreed on a mechanism to police any agreement they reach, including establishing “enforcement offices,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. Talks resume on Thursday.

· Spot platinum was flat at $890.13 per ounce.

· Palladium was down 1.99 percent at $1,359.505 per ounce, while silver slipped 1.98 percent to $14.90.

Reference: CNBC