Gold eased a touch in Europe on Tuesday as the euro's rally against the dollar stalled, with investors fearing the boost given to the single currency by last weekend's bailout of debt-laden Greece may have been overdone. The precious metal reached a four-month high early on Monday as the plan by European finance ministers prompted buying of the euro, and consequently of gold. However, it was unable to sustain those gains. The metal has found support just above $1 150 (R8 372) an ounce, and is likely to consolidate here before trending higher, according to analysts who study charts of past price patterns to predict future moves. "Overbought readings may pin back the rally somewhat this week, but we would view consolidation above $1 124 as bullish, targeting $1 188 later in the month and $1 250 thereafter," said technical analysts at Barclays Capital in a note. "We see all these as conservative upside targets. Longer term, we are aiming for $1 300 and $1 500." PRICES * Spot gold was at $1 153.05 an ounce at 08:39 SA time compared with $1 155.00 late in New York on Monday. * Silver was at $18.14 from $18.19. * Platinum at $1 717 from $1 720. * Palladium at $511.50 from $516.50. DATA/EVENTS * US March import/export prices, due 14:30 SA time. * US February international trade data, due 14:30 SA time. * US weekly Redbook data, 14:55 SA time. * US IBD April consumer confidence data, 16:00 SA time. MARKET NEWS * The dollar was steady against the euro, with sentiment towards the single currency cautious as investors worried gains made after the announcement of an aid package for Greece at the weekend were overdone. * Oil fell for a fifth straight session to about $84 on Tuesday, almost erasing April's gains, as a forecast increase in US crude inventories fanned concern about excess supplies and sluggish demand growth. * Asian shares fell ahead of key earnings in the United States while the euro consolidated ahead of a Treasury bill sale by Greece later in the day. FUNDAMENTALS * The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, the SPDR Gold Trust, said its holdings totalled 1 141.041 tonnes as of April 12, unchanged from an all-time high marked one business day earlier. * Peruvian miner Minera IRL said on Monday it will boost its gold production more than 500 percent to 200 000 ounces by 2014 thanks to new projects in Argentina and Peru. * The chief executive of the world's biggest platinum miner, Anglo Platinum, said he sees platinum group metals demand improving and said the company may produce 200 000 ounces more than the projected 2.5 million ounces. TECHNICALS * Gold support at $1 145, resistance at $1 171, 14-day RSI at 69.5. * Silver support at $18.28, resistance at $18.62, 14-day RSI at 63.5. * Platinum support at $1 719, resistance at $1 740, 14-day RSI at 73.8. - Reuters

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