(Updates prices, adds comment)
* Trading volume low ahead of Christmas break
* Silver also hits highest since Nov. 7
* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns: http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl
By Sumita Layek
Dec 24 (Reuters) - Gold prices rose to their highest in over a month and a half on Tuesday as weak U.S. economic data and concerns about an interim Sino-U.S. trade deal lent support to the safe-haven asset.
The spot gold price XAU= was up 0.4% at $1,490.80 per ounce at 0825 GMT having earlier hit $1,491.78, its highest since Nov. 7. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 rose 0.4% to $1,494.00.
Data on Monday showed new orders for key U.S.-made capital goods barely rose in November and shipments fell, suggesting business investment will probably remain a drag on economic growth in the fourth quarter. weaker U.S. economic data is starting to show up ... there are still concerns that the current level of tariffs will continue to weigh on the U.S. economy as we enter into 2020," said Stephen Innes, a market strategist at AxiTrader.
Adding to growth concerns, Canada's economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% in October, the first monthly decline since February, partly because of a U.S. auto strike that hit manufacturing. is considered an alternative investment during times of political and financial uncertainty.
On the trade front, investors awaited further developments on the Phase One deal between the United States and China, the world's two biggest economies.
"We are still not 100% clear if the 'phase one' deal will go through or not, it has not been signed yet ... we then pivot to 'phase two' that suggests you need some gold, because we don't know what the next phase is all about, how contentious of a deal that is going to be," Innes said.
Gold was on track for its best year since 2010 with a 16% gain, mainly due to the 17-month tariff dispute that has roiled global financial markets.
Even as Beijing and Washington have taken steps to defuse their dispute, they still diverge on a slew of issues, including anti-government protests in Hong Kong and the treatment of China's Muslim Uighur minority. shares and U.S. stock futures darted in and out of losses on Tuesday as the holiday lull offset optimism about a Sino-U.S. trade deal. MKTS/GLOB
"In 2020, we may see equity markets starting to slip because we have already seen multi-year highs and any correction in equities will help gold," said Ajay Kedia, director at Kedia Advisory in Mumbai.
Elsewhere, silver XAG= rose 0.9% to $17.59 per ounce, having earlier hit its highest since Nov. 7 at $17.65.
Palladium XPD= fell 0.2% to $1,871.83 per ounce while platinum XPT= inched up 0.1% to $937.04.
Trading is expected to be subdued ahead of the Christmas holidays.