Gold hovers near three-week high as equities slip

Gold held close to its highest level in nearly three weeks on Monday, boosted by safe-haven demand after the Federal Reserve's move last week to leave US interest rates unchanged weighed on global equities.

Spot gold eased slightly to $1,137.56 an ounce by 0311 GMT, after gaining 3% in the previous three sessions. Trading liquidity is likely to be thin during Asian hours due to a three-day holiday in Japan.

The metal had climbed to $1,141.50 in the previous session, its highest since September 2.

Asian shares followed Wall Street lower on Monday after the Fed's decision to keep interest rates at record lows raised fresh concerns about growth globally, particularly in China. US and European debt yields also tumbled.

"The retreat in equities plus the continued decline in US Treasury yields helped encourage buying in gold," said HSBC analyst James Steel.

"Buying appeared to be a combination of safe-haven demand and fresh short covering," he said.

The Fed kept interest rates unchanged last week in a bow to worries about the global economy, financial market volatility and sluggish inflation at home. It left open the possibility of modest rate rises later this year.

With the Fed having sounded a cautious tone on the health of the global economy, the focus this week will likely turn to China and the flash PMI report on Wednesday.

The decision to not hike rates last week is positive for non-interest-paying gold, which could see demand drop with higher rates. Bullion prices have dropped about 4% this year on uncertainty over the timing of a rate hike.

But with the Fed expected to hike rates before the end of the year, gold could come under pressure again.

An interest rate hike will likely be appropriate this year given the US central bank's decision last week to stand pat was a "close call," Fed policymaker John Williams said on Saturday.

A stronger dollar could also limit gold's gains. The dollar edged higher against a basket of major currencies on Monday, recovering from last week's losses after the Fed.

Hedge funds and money managers slashed their net long position in