* Dollar rebounds from eight-month lows * Obama meets lawmakers to resolve budget impasse * Fed minutes shows most board members still expect tapering * Physical buying weak at current price levels By Clara Denina LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Gold fell to about $1,300 an ounce on Thursday as the dollar rebounded on signs that Washington is moving towards breaking a stalemate over debt and averting a U.S. default. House Republican leaders will visit the White House on Thursday as efforts intensify to break the impasse that has left parts of the U.S. government shuttered for more than a week. Both the Republican and Democratic parties earlier floated the possibility of a short-term increase in the country's $16.7 trillion debt limit to avoid a default and allow time for broader negotiations on the budget. "If there is some kind of risk aversion or uncertainty, you would expect gold to move higher, which has not been the case with the U.S. budget impasse unfolding," ABN Amro analyst Georgette Boele said. "Investors have continued to sell gold on rallies, and expectation the U.S. political deadlock will soon be behind us could result in further losses." Spot gold fell 0.4 percent to $1,301.46 an ounce by 1146 GMT, after dropping 0.9 percent in the previous session, its biggest daily loss since Oct. 1. U.S. gold futures for December were down $5.50 an ounce at $1,301.80. A rise in U.S. 10-year Treasury yields to 2.7 percent from 2.6 percent a week ago helped the dollar index extend its recovery from an eight-month low hit a week ago. As gold pays no interest, the rise in returns from U.S. bonds and other markets is seen as negative for the metal. "How the U.S. dollar moves in the near term may provide direction for gold," HSBC said in a note. "It is possible that investors move into Treasuries as a safe haven despite the possibility of U.S. default. This could reduce yields and bolster the dollar but detract from gold." FED TAPERING Gold was also undermined by Wednesday's minutes from the September policy meeting, which showed that the Fed's decision last month was a "relatively close call" for policymakers and there was still broad support for bond-buying to be trimmed this year. Gold has fallen about 22 percent this year on the expectation that the Fed would start cutting back its $85 billion bond purchases. The metal had been boosted by central bank liquidity and low interest rates, which encourage investors to put money into non-interest-bearing assets. The central bank stunned markets last month when it decided not to taper. Physical buying for the metal also failed to pick up despite lower prices. "The concern has been the lack of physical demand out of China over the last 2 sessions ... physical premium in Hong Kong has actually decreased and orders aren't that sizeable," MKS SA said in a note. In other precious metals, silver rose 0.2 percent to $21.92 an ounce. Spot platinum gained 0.5 percent to $1,379.20 an ounce on persistent fears that mining strikes in South Africa could hurt supply. Spot palladium rose 0.3 percent to $702.47 an ounce.

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