PRECIOUS-Gold firms on weak dlr, oil gains; ETF unchanged

TOKYO, June 12 (Reuters) - Spot gold prices edged up on
Friday, supported by a weak dollar and inflation concerns amid a
rally in oil prices, although gains by equities may sap further
buying interest for the safe-haven asset.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Spot gold XAU= rose 0.4 percent to $957.55 per ounce from
New York's notional close of $954.00 on Thursday, when it rose as
high as $961.70.

* U.S. gold futures for August delivery GCQ9 fell 0.3
percent to $959.00 per ounce, compared with Thursday's settlement
of $962.00 on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile
Exchange.

* The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, the
SPDR Gold Trust (GLD: Quote, Profile, Research), said its holdings were steady at 1,132.15
tonnes as of June 11, unchanged since June 5. [GOL/SPDR]

* South African gold output fell 13 percent in volume terms
and total mineral production dropped 10.6 percent in April
compared with the same month last year, official data showed on
Thursday. [ID:nWEA6411]

MARKET NEWS

* The Nikkei opened up 1.1 percent, hitting its highest level
in eight months. [.T]

* The dollar stayed weak against a basket of currencies
.DXY on Friday. The U.S. currency fell broadly on Thursday as
improved U.S. labour market and retail sales data raised optimism
about an economic recovery and reduced safe-haven demand for the
dollar. [USD/]

* U.S. stocks racked up gains across a wide array of sectors
on Thursday, aided by rising commodity prices and improving
labour market conditions, along with a sharp drop in interest
rates. [.N]

* Oil prices CLc1 extended a three-day rally to above $73 a
barrel on Thursday on hopes for a recovery in world energy demand
and worries refinery shutdowns could tighten U.S. gasoline
supplies befores summer driving season. [O/R]

* Consultant GFMS said on Thursday silver prices could rise
as high as $18 per ounce later this year as investment demand for
the precious metal takes up the slack from falling industrial
usage [ID:nLT113861].

DATA EVENTS

- G8 Finance Ministers' meeting (N/A)

- ECB Trichet speaks (1100 GMT)

- White House National Economic Director Summers speaks (1515
GMT)

* The following data is expected on Friday: ECON

- Japan revised industrial output April (0430 GMT)

- Japan May consumer confidence index (0500 GMT)

- German wholesale prices for May (0600 GMT)

- Euro zone industrial production for April (0900 GMT)

- Rtrs/Uni of Michigan index of consumer sentiment (1355 GMT)

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PRICES
Precious metals prices at 0012
Metal Last Change Pct chg Day ago pct MA 30 RSI
Spot gold $957.25 $3.25 +0.34% +6.72% $860.10 51
Spot silver $15.39 $0.02 +0.13% +28.46% $11.29 57
Spot plat $1263.50 $2.50 +0.20% +0.20% $1178.93 69
COMEX gold $954.80 $0.00 +0.00% +0.08% $943.83 48
TOCOM gold 3,016 -8 -0.26% -0.33% 2,951 57
TOCOM plat 3,977 -10 -0.25% +0.45% 3,668 73
Currencies
Euro/dlr $1.412 $0.002 +0.12% +1.12%
Dlr/yen 97.53 -0.02 -0.02% -0.68%
(Reporting by Risa Maeda)