* Analysts expect correction in gold price after rally
* Gold seems to de-couple from currency market for now
* Speculation rife over further cenbank gold acquisitions
(Recasts, updates comments, closing prices, market activity,
adds NEW YORK to dateline)
By Frank Tang and Jan Harvey
NEW YORK/LONDON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Gold slipped on
Thursday, retreating from a record high it hit last session as
disappointment over the metal's failure to breach $1,100 an
ounce prompted investors to cash in some gains.
Gold's strength despite a relatively firm dollar this week
suggests that bullion could be driven by other factors, such as
renewed interest among central banks and inflation worries.
"The gold market has de-coupled itself from the dollar for
the time being," said George Nickas, commodities broker at FC
Stone.
On Tuesday, gold rallied $30 in the face of a broadly
higher dollar, largely driven by improved sentiment after
India's purchase of 200 tonnes of bullion from the
International Monetary Fund.
Yet, analysts warned of possible short-term pullbacks in
overbought market conditions.
"The market has run out of steam as we end the week. This
market has to do some backing and filling to justify at these
levels," Nickas said.
Spot gold <XAU=> was at $1,088.95 an ounce at 2:08 p.m. EST
(1908 GMT), against $1,092.35 late in New York on Wednesday,
when the precious metal hit a record high of $1,097.25 an
ounce.
U.S. December gold <GCZ9> settled up $2 at $1,089.30 an
ounce on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile
Exchange.
Further gains were capped after the metal failed to
decisively break above $1,100 an ounce.
"The fact that we didn't manage to go through $1,100 might
lead some investors to reconsider their positioning in the
sector," said Commerzbank analyst Eugen Weinberg.
"Should the dollar become stronger over the coming days I
would expect to see more profit taking," he added. "I think...
we will see a prolonged correction, because the trend of the
last few weeks is becoming a bit too pronounced."
Friday's U.S. October non-farm payrolls data could give a
clear direction to the dollar and set the tone for the gold
market.
CENBANKS EYED
Speculation continued over the prospect of further central
bank gold acquisitions, after India's purchase of 200 tonnes of
bullion from the International Monetary Fund on Monday. The
report helped push gold to record highs. []
Sri Lanka's central bank said it had been buying gold for
the last five or six months as it diversifies its reserves amid
volatile markets. []
A former adviser to the People's Bank of China poured cold
water on the idea that the PBC will buy IMF gold, saying
locally sourced bullion would be cheaper. []
In the physical market, a report showed gold sales in Abu
Dhabi fell by up to 30 percent in October on the year, as
higher prices continued to keep consumers at bay.
[]
Among other precious metals, spot silver <XAG=> was at
$17.36 an ounce against $17.44. Holdings of the world's biggest
silver-backed exchange-traded fund, the iShares Silver Trust
<SLV>, fell 3.85 tonnes on Wednesday. []
Platinum <XPT=> was at $1,352.50 an ounce against $1,364,
while palladium <XPD=> was at $328 against $327, its previous
session's late quote. The metals, used mainly in autocatalysts,
are both sensitive to car demand.
Close Change Pct 2008 YTD
Chg Close % Chg
US gold <GCZ9> 1089.30 2.00 0.2 884.3 23.2
US silver <SIZ9> 17.410 0.005 0.0 11.295 54.1
US platinum <PLF0> 1362.90 -6.40 -0.5 941.50 44.8
US palladium <PAZ9> 331.85 3.05 0.9 188.70 75.9
Prices at 2:07 p.m. EST (1907 GMT)
Gold <XAU=> 1088.70 -3.65 -0.3 878.20 24.0
Silver <XAG=> 17.36 -0.08 -0.5 11.30 53.6
Platinum <XPT=> 1352.50 -11.50 -0.8 924.50 46.3
Palladium <XPD=> 328.00 1.000 0.3 184.50 77.8
Gold Fix <XAUFIX=> 1089.00 1.00 0.1 836.50 30.2
Silver Fix <XAGFIX=> 17.38 -10.00 -0.6 14.76 17.8
Platinum Fix <XPTFIX=> 1359.00 1.00 0.1 1529 -11.1
Palladium Fix<XPDFIX=> 330.00 1.00 0.3 365.0 -9.6
(Additional reporting by Pratima Desai in London; Editing by
Christian Wiessner)
