(Reuters) - Gold prices edged lower in Asian trade on Friday as stocks firmed and the U.S. dollar rose on expectations the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates by year-end.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold > was down 0.1 percent at $1,256.50 an ounce by 0059 GMT.
* U.S. gold futures
* The dollar index <.DXY>, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, gained 0.1 percent to 97.613.
* Asian stocks edged higher and the dollar bounced on Friday as global markets took a breather after being churned by downbeat Chinese economic data the previous day.
* Markets will next look to Friday's U.S. retail sales data and remarks from Fed Chair Janet Yellen, who will address a Boston Fed economics conference at which Boston Fed governor Eric Rosengren will also speak.
* The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits held at a 43-year low last week, pointing to sustained labour market strength that could pave the way for the Fed to raise interest rates in December.
* The U.S. central bank may want to hold off on monetary policy changes until after the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker said on Thursday.
* China's September exports fell 10 percent from a year earlier, far worse than expected, while imports unexpectedly shrank after picking up in August, suggesting signs of steadying in the world's second-largest economy may be short-lived.
* Azerbaijan's top gold producer Anglo Asian Mining
* Holdings of the SPDR Gold Trust
* South Africa's mining output fell 0.2 pct in August, according to Statistics South Africa's monthly mining production data released on Thursday.
* For the top stories on metals and other news, click [TOP/MTL] or [GOL]
(Reporting by Swati Verma in Bengaluru; Editing by Joseph Radford)
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
