Gold steadies

Bengaluru

Gold prices were broadly stable early Monday, after locking in their first weekly gain in four last week, with markets waiting for further clues on the timing of any interest rate hike.

Spot gold was up 0.05 percent at $1,266.86 an ounce at 0050 GMT, after closing almost flat at $1,266.25 in the previous session.

U.S. gold futures fell 0.02 percent to $1,267.50. * Third-quarter growth figures from the United States and Britain will be scrutinised by financial markets in the week, and a business survey will provide the first evidence on how the euro zone has fared going into the fourth quarter.

Disappointing growth in the world´s largest economy might make it less likely the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in December.

Markets now put the chances the Fed will act at about 70 percent.