May 26 (Reuters) - Gold traded little changed on Tuesday as
gains in equities on optimism over a reopening global economy
offset support from a softer dollar and lingering tensions over
Hong Kong and Venezuela.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold was flat at $1,729.83 per ounce by 1253
GMT. U.S. gold futures were down 0.2% to $1,732.10.
* Japan's Nikkei rose 1% to its highest since early
March, while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares
outside Japan added 0.1% in early trade.
* The German economy is starting to recover as curbs to slow
the coronavirus are lifted, a business morale survey showed,
boosting European sentiment.
* Singapore cut its 2020 GDP outlook for the third time as
it braces for the deepest recession in its history.
* The dollar index was down 0.2%, making gold
slightly cheaper for holders of other currencies.
* China's foreign ministry office in Hong Kong and the
city's security chief defended proposed security laws by
describing some acts in mass pro-democracy protests last year as
terrorism.
* A second Iranian vessel carrying fuel had entered
Venezuelan waters, Refinitiv Eikon data showed - despite a U.S.
official's warning that Washington was considering a response to
the shipment.
* China became a net exporter of gold via Hong Kong for the
first time since at least 2011 in April.
* Palladium gained 0.6% to $2,003.97 per ounce and
platinum was up 0.2% at $840.25, while silver fell
0.3% to $17.14.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
0645 France Business Climate Mfg May
1300 Russia Unemployment Rate April
1400 U.S. Consumer Confidence May
(Reporting by Harshith Aranya in Bengaluru; Editing by
Subhranshu Sahu)
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