BENGALURU Gold prices eased on Monday and hovered around key US$2,500 level, as traders locked in profits following bullion's climb to an all-time peak in the previous session on expectations of a US interest rate cut next month.

Spot gold was down 0.2% at US$2,502.78 per ounce, as of 0317 GMT, and US gold futures edged 0.2% higher to US$2,541.80.

Enthusiasm over a likely interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) in September propelled bullion to an all-time high of US$2,509.65 on Friday. This coupled with increased geopolitical tensions and robust central bank-buying have sent bullion over 20% higher so far this year.

"Gold has been chasing the psychological US$2,500 level for several months, and now that it has been reached, we are seeing some natural profit-taking occur," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst, KCM Trade.

Last week, strong US retail sales print and lower-than-expected unemployment claims, along with mild inflation data, restored confidence in the world's largest economy.

Traders are confident that the US Fed will cut rates next month and the focus is now on the size of the reduction. They are pricing in a 75.5% chance of a 25-basis-point cut, according to CME FedWatch tool.

"Traders will be looking towards Jerome Powell's tone and language at Jackson Hole (on Friday) to fill in some of the blanks in this regard," Waterer added.

The market will also look out for minutes of the Fed's July policy meeting on Wednesday for further cues.

Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust GLD, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose nearly 1% on Friday. COMEX gold speculators also raised net long position by 34,197 contracts in week ended Aug 13, data showed.

Several Chinese banks have been given new gold import quotas from the central bank, anticipating revived demand despite record high prices.

Elsewhere, spot silver rose 0.2% to US$29.08 per ounce, platinum gained 0.4% to US$957.75 and palladium shed 0.4% to US$947.13.

  - Reuters