SINGAPORE, March 30 (Reuters) - Gold was little changed on
Friday after falling more than 1 percent in the previous
session, but a steadier euro could encourage buying from
investors as the precious metal was on track for a 6 percent
increase this quarter. 	
          	
    FUNDAMENTALS	
    * Spot gold steady at $1,661.26 an ounce by 0037 GMT.
It hit a two-week high near $1,700 this week on expectations of
monetary easing in the United States after Federal Reserve
chairman Ben Bernanke cautioned it is too soon to declare
victory in the U.S. recovery.	
    * U.S. gold June contract rose $8.1 to $1,663 an
ounce.	
    * The Federal Reserve's current policy of ultra-low interest
rates is adequate given moderate U.S. economic growth and
manageable inflation, Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker said
on Thursday. 	
    * U.S. household income grew at a faster pace in the fourth
quarter than previously thought as the jobs market strengthened,
a development that could underpin consumer spending.
 	
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    MARKET NEWS	
    * The euro was steady at around $1.3301, having
touched a nearly four-week high earlier this week on comments
from U.S. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, who indicated supportive
monetary policy will remain in place. 	
    * Japan's Nikkei share average edged lower for a third day
on Friday as many investors locked in profits in Tokyo stocks
that have rallied in the January-March period, but the index is
still expected to log its best first-quarter performance in 24
years. 	
   	
    DATA/EVENTS	
    0500 - JAPAN CONSTRUCTION ORDERS FOR FEBRUARY      	
    0600 - GERMAN RETAIL SALES FOR FEBRUARY    	
    N/A  - EUROGROUP MEETING - COPENHAGEN    	
    1230 - U.S. PERSONAL INCOME/SPENDING FOR FEBRUARY  	
    1345 - CHICAGO PMI FOR MARCH    	
    1355 - THOMSON REUTERS/UNIV OF MICH FINAL MARCH CONSUMER 	
           SENTIMENT   	
    1430 - U.S. ECRI WEEKLY    	
       	
    PRICES 	
          	
  Precious metals prices 0037 GMT
  Metal             Last    Change  Pct chg  YTD pct chg    Volume
  Spot Gold        1661.26    0.38   +0.02      6.23
  Spot Silver        32.22    0.01   +0.03     16.36
  Spot Platinum    1629.19    6.24   +0.38     16.96
  Spot Palladium    642.70   -0.25   -0.04     -1.50
 
  COMEX SILVER MAY2  32.23    0.23   +0.73     15.44          355
  Euro/Dollar       1.3324
  Dollar/Yen         81.86

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