Investing.com - Gold prices were marginally higher during Europe's session on Tuesday, but struggled to move away from last week's four-month lows amid indications the Federal Reserve is gearing up to hike interest rates in the coming months.
Gold for December delivery on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange tacked on $1.55, or 0.12%, to trade at $1,262.05 a troy ounce by 3:20AM ET (07:20GMT).
A day earlier, the yellow metal rose $8.50, or 0.68%, as investors returned to the market to seek cheap valuations after futures suffered their worst one-week performance since September 2013.
On Friday, gold prices slumped to $1,243.20, a level not seen since June 7, as a weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report was not enough to derail expectations for a rate hike from the Federal Reserve before the end of the year.
Markets are currently pricing in around a 74% chance of a rate hike at December's meeting, According to Investing.com's Fed Rate Monitor Tool.
Gold is sensitive to moves in U.S. rates, which lift the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as bullion.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback's value against a basket of six major currencies, was up 0.25% at 97.15 early Tuesday, within sight of a more than two-month high of 97.21 touched late last week.
A stronger U.S. dollar usually weighs on gold, as it dampens the metal's appeal as an alternative asset and makes dollar-priced commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies.
Market players will be turning their attention to Wednesday’s minutes of the Federal Reserve’s September policy meeting for fresh clues on the timing of the next U.S. rate hike.
The timing of a Fed rate hike has been a constant source of debate in the markets in recent months.