Gold held firm around $US920 on Wednesday after ending the last quarter up more than 4%, as investors awaited key US economic data to see their impact on stock and currency markets.
Recent stock market rallies and a strengthening dollar have undermined sentiment in gold, and analysts say stock and currency movements are likely to continue to dictate the metal's direction.
Gold was $US920.40 an ounce in Asian trade, up 0.4% from New York's notional close of $US917.15 on Tuesday.
Gold has risen more than 4% since the end of last year, but it is down about 9% from an 11-month high above $US1000 in February and 11% off its record high of $US1030.80 hit last March.
David Moore, a commodity strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said there had been not much information during Asian business hours to drive the market.
"You have some really important US economic data out in the next couple of days and that's potentially going to move the US dollar, and therefore the gold price,'' he said.
US construction spending for February and US automaker sales data for March will be released on Wednesday, while US jobless claims are due out on Thursday.
Gold prices have fallen below $US1000 marked in February as investors booked profits, seeing limited upside due to weak demand for jewellery amid the economic downturn, but have held generally held above $US900.
India, the world's largest market for gold, did not import any for the second month running in March as high prices dented consumer demand.
But gold's appeal as a hedge against risk continues to keep investment in gold-backed securities solid.
The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, the SPDR Gold Trust, said holdings stayed unchanged at a record 1127.44 tonnes as of March 31, a level first reached on March 29.
