(RTTNews) - The price of gold was lingering just below $1,800 Tuesday morning as traders await cues from today's economic data from the U.S.
Gold for December delivery, the most actively traded contract, edged up $5.50 to $1,797.10 an ounce. Yesterday, gold edged down as strong equities and upbeat economic data took away some shine from the safe haven metal.
Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, were unchanged at 1,230.80 tons.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar was paring its recent losses versus the euro and sterling, while edging lower against the yen. The buck was ticking higher versus the Swiss franc.
In economic news, euro zone economic confidence declined sharply in August according to a monthly survey from the European Commission. The economic confidence index fell to 98.3 from 103 in July. It was well below the consensus forecast of 103.2 and its long-term average of 100.
Elsewhere, the prices of silver and platinum were ticking higher in morning deals.
In economic news from the U.S., the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index, which tracks monthly changes in the value of residential real estate in 20 metropolitan regions across the U.S., is scheduled to be released at 9 a.m.ET Economists expect a 4.4 percent year-over-year decline in the index for June.
Later during the session, the Conference Board will come out with its consumer confidence report for August. The report is expected to show that the consumer confidence index fell to 57 in August after it rose 1.9 points to 59.5 in July.
Traders will also be keen to get clues from the Federal Reserve's minutes of August 9 FOMC meeting, due out at 2 p.m.ET.
