Investing.com - Gold prices nudged lower on Thursday, but held near the $1,300-level as market players awaited comments on monetary policy from the Jackson Hole meeting set to begin later in the day.
An annual meeting of top central bankers and economists hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is set to take place from Thursday to Saturday.
The focus will be on speeches from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Friday.
Their comments will be closely watched for fresh policy signals from the world’s two most powerful central banks.
Comex gold futures slipped $1.10, or around 0.1%, to $1,293.64 a troy ounce by 2:50AM ET (0650GMT). The yellow metal rose to its highest level since November at $1,306.90 late last week.
Gold prices added about 0.3% on Wednesday, as U.S. political developments kept investors on edge and supported safe-haven demand for the precious metal.
President Donald Trump raised the specter of a government shutdown to fulfill a campaign pledge of building a wall at the U.S.-Mexican border.
Elsewhere on the Comex, silver futures inched down 3.8 cents, or around 0.2%, to $17.00 a troy ounce.
Among other precious metals, platinum dipped 0.3% to $978.35, while palladium held steady at $933.52 an ounce.