METALS

GOLD steadied yesterday as investors awaited US employment data that could bolster prospects of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates as early as next month. US non-farm payrolls are due today and economists polled predict employment in July to increase at the same pace as June’s 223 000 rise. In London, gold was fixed at $1 089.75 an ounce (R447 052 a kilogram) in the afternoon, up $4.65 from Wednesday’s second fix. Spot palladium gained 1 percent to $596.72 an ounce, while platinum fell to $943.24, close to a 6½ year low earlier in the week. Silver was unchanged at $14.56 an ounce. – Reuters