SINGAPORE, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Gold prices climbed more
than half a percent on Monday, buoyed by easing from China's
central bank and hopes that Greece will seal a deal on the
bailout at a meeting with euro zone officials later in the day.	
    	
    FUNDAMENTALS	
    * Spot gold gained 0.6 percent to $1,733.29 an ounce
by 0018 GMT, reversing losses from the previous session.	
    * U.S. gold rose half a percent to $1,735.20.	
    * Gold, along with riskier assets, was encouraged by easing
from China's central bank, which cut the required reserve ratio
over the weekend, boosting lending capacity. 
 	
    * Optimism on a deal later in the day between Greece and
euro zone finace ministers on the second bailout for Greece also
helped buoy the sentiment. 	
    * Money managers in gold futures and options reduced their
net long position in the week of Feb. 14, their first decline in
five weeks, as investors unwound some safe-haven bets due to
optimism surrounding the Greek debt crisis. 	
    * For the top stories on metals and other news, click
, or 	
    	
    MARKET NEWS	
    * U.S. stocks edged higher on Friday, but investors stayed
cautious before a long holiday weekend when hopes are set for
Greece's bailout plan to be approved. 	
    * The yen fell to six-month lows on the greenback on Monday,
while commodity currencies jumped after China's central bank
joined other major counterparts globally in stimulating growth.
 	
    * U.S. crude futures rose to a fresh nine-month high on
Monday after Iran halted oil sales to Britain and France. 	
        	
    DATA/EVENTS	
 0745  France  Business climate             Feb
 0900  Italy   Industrial orders/sales      Dec
 1600  Eurogroup meeting
       U.S. holiday
    	

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