Gold steady as traders assess Omicron, rate hike impact

Gold steady as traders assess Omicron, rate hike impact

Gold prices held steady on Tuesday, as traders assessed the impact of surging Omicron coronavirus cases and interest rate hikes aimed at taming high inflation. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,790.57 per ounce by 0142 GMT. U.S. gold futures were down 0.2% at $1,790.60. * British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday he would tighten coronavirus curbs to slow the spread of the Omicron variant if needed, after the Netherlands began a fourth lockdown and as other European nations consider Christmas restrictions. * The dollar hovered below recent highs, having lost ground overnight after a blow to Democratic spending plans in Washington. * U.S. stocks closed more than 1% lower overnight, pressured by surging Omicron coronavirus cases and a possible fatal blow to a $1.75 trillion domestic spending bill, with oil prices plunging. * Moderna Inc said on Monday that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be protective against the fast-spreading Omicron in laboratory testing and that the current version of the shot would continue to be its "first line of defense against Omicron." * The Federal Reserve's more hawkish turn this week came amid heightened worries about economic recovery and inflation, but