Aug 28 (Reuters) - Gold prices held steady on Wednesday, trading close to a more than six-year high on fears of an economic slowdown amid a protracted Sino-U.S. trade conflict, boosting appetite for the safe-haven metal.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was steady at $1,542.90 per ounce, as of 0100 GMT.
* Gold prices jumped 1% on Tuesday, and traded close to Monday's high of $1,554.56, last reached in April 2013.
* U.S. gold futures GCcv1 inched up 0.1% to $1,553.30 an ounce.
* The yield curve inversion on benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasuries US10YT=RR compared with the two-year yield US2YT=RR was at its deepest since May 2007, when the U.S. subprime financial crisis started to unfold. US/
* The U.S. yield curve inversion, a portent for several past U.S. recessions, sent Wall Street stocks tumbling down on Tuesday. MKTS/GLOB
* Investors are also focused on Sept. 1, when the first stage of U.S. tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods is scheduled to go into effect. In response, China has unveiled tariffs on U.S. products set to go into effect the same day.
* On Tuesday, data showed that U.S. consumer confidence USCONC=ECI inched down in August, and growth in home prices hit its slowest pace in nearly seven years. SPDR Gold Trust (P:GLD) GLD , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 1.6% to 873.32 tonnes on Tuesday from Monday. GOL/ETF
* The dollar index against a basket of six major currencies .DXY stood little changed after dipping 0.1% overnight. USD/
* Markets are fully priced in for a quarter-point cut in interest rates by the U.S. Fed next month, and over 100 basis points of easing by the end of next year. FEDWATCH
* Spot silver XAG= touched a high of $18.29 an ounce, its highest since April 2017.
DATA AHEAD (GMT)
0600 Germany
GfK Consumer Sentiment Sept 0600 Germany
Import Prices MM, YY
July 0800 Italy
Consumer Confidence
Aug 0800 Euro Zone Money-M3 Annual growth July