SINGAPORE, April 19 (Reuters) - Gold held steady in a narrow
range on Thursday, as investors stood on sidelines and awaited a
key Spanish debt auction later in the day amid worries that the
euro zone debt crisis could flare up again.	
    Concerns about Spain's finances and banking sector pushed up
safe-haven U.S. Treasuries and German Bunds, and caution
prevailed in most markets.   	
    Gold, though traditionally seen as a haven during times of
economic and political turmoil, has moved largely in tandem with
riskier assets and against the dollar.	
    Spot gold was little changed at $1,640.29 an ounce by
0303 GMT, hovering in a $3 range around $1,640.	
    U.S. gold edged up 0.1 percent to $1,641.40.	
    "The upside is very heavy because the euro remains under
pressure and the weak physical demand isn't helping," said Peter
Fung, head of dealing at Wing Fung Precious Metals in Hong Kong.	
    "We might see prices test $1,600 level, which will attract
some physical buying interest."	
    Technical analysis suggested that spot gold could fall
towards $1,611.80 an ounce during the day, said Reuters market
analyst Wang Tao. 	
    	
    Physical buying interest from the world's top two gold
consumers, India and China, has been sluggish, even after a
three-week strike by India's jewellers.	
    Gold prices are similar to those at the beginning of the
year, the level of physical buying interest has fallen far
below, dealers said.	
    "It makes me a bit nervous," said a Singapore-based dealer,
"The confidence is not there given the uncertainties in general
economic conditions, and people are waiting for lower prices."	
    In a step that was mildly supportive of gold sentiment, an
unnamed central bank official said China would increase
liquidity via open market operations and cutting banks' required
reserves to steer the economy towards a soft landing.
 	
    	
 Precious metals prices 0303 GMT
  Metal             Last    Change  Pct chg  YTD pct chg    Volume
  Spot Gold        1640.29   -0.99   -0.06      4.89
  Spot Silver        31.58   -0.02   -0.06     14.05
  Spot Platinum    1576.00    3.05   +0.19     13.14
  Spot Palladium    655.97    1.02   +0.16      0.53
  COMEX GOLD JUN2  1641.40    1.80   +0.11      4.76         4266
  COMEX SILVER MAY2  31.57    0.08   +0.26     13.09          575
  Euro/Dollar       1.3118
  Dollar/Yen         81.49
  COMEX gold and silver contracts show the most active months    
 	

• Oil Prices U.S. Dollar And Interest Rate Expectations Could Push Gold Higher Next Week – Analysts   (2016-01-30 03:49:19)
• Price of Gold in 2016: Will It Break Out or Melt Down?   (2016-01-19 05:33:39)
• Gold Sees Decent Short-Covering Bounce, Some Technical Buying   (2015-12-22 04:50:39)
• PRECIOUS-Gold falls as looming U.S. rate rise lifts dollar Read more at Reutershttp://www.reuters.com/article/global-precious-idUSL3N14334F20151214#K113K1O55Bq13ITK.99   (2015-12-14 18:49:37)
• PRECIOUS-Gold falls as looming U.S. rate rise lifts dollar Read more at Reutershttp://www.reuters.com/article/global-precious-idUSL3N14334F20151214#K113K1O55Bq13ITK.99   (2015-12-14 18:49:32)
• Gold Poised for Longest Weekly Slump Since September Before Data   (2014-04-04 09:52:32)
• Gold Bulls Run for $1,400 as Ukraine Turmoil Fuels Haven Demand    (2014-03-04 09:36:22)
• Gold to Oil Climb as Commodities Reach Six-Month High on Ukraine    (2014-03-04 09:35:49)
• Gold Fix Study Shows Signs of Decade of Bank Manipulation   (2014-03-01 08:47:36)
• Gold Rises to 17-Week High on Signs U.s. Economy Sputters    (2014-02-26 08:29:25)