BENGALURU Gold prices eased on Thursday but hovered near a two-week high hit in the previous session, after softer-than-expected US economic data fuelled hopes that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates as soon as September.

Spot gold fell 0.1% at US$2,353.14 per ounce as of 0637 GMT, after hitting highest level since June 21 in the previous session. US gold futures lost 0.3% at US$2,363.10.

US economic data on Wednesday, including weak services and ADP employment reports, showed a slowing economy. A separate report showed an increase in initial applications for US unemployment benefits last week.

Traders are now looking out for US nonfarm payrolls (NFP) data, due on Friday.

"A softer-than-expected ISM services report was the gift that Fed doves have been waiting for ahead of a NFP. A move to US$2,400 is on the cards, should NFP confirm the economic cracks we're seeing elsewhere," said Matt Simpson, senior analyst at City Index.

"I doubt we’ll be seeing the US dollar index retest 106 any time soon, so we expect traders to fade into dollar bounces and buy dips on gold." 

Markets are now pricing in a 73% chance of the Fed cutting interest rates at its September meeting, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold.

Meanwhile, Fed officials, at their last meeting, acknowledged that the US economy appeared to be slowing but still counselled a wait-and-see approach before committing to rate cuts, according to minutes from the June 11-12 session.

Spot gold may test support zone of US$2,346-US$2,352, a break below which could be followed by a drop into the range of US$2,329-US$2,340, according to Reuters' technical analyst Wang Tao.

Spot silver slipped 0.7% to US$30.27, while platinum added 0.7% at US$1,004.10.

Palladium fell 1.5% to US$1,014.02, after scaling its highest level since mid-April in the previous session.

  - Reuters