* Texas Instruments revenue forecast hits chipmakers
* Markets focus on Fed talks on Oct. 29 and 30
* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns: http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl (Updates prices)
By Sumita Layek
Oct 23 (Reuters) - Gold firmed on Wednesday as uncertainty over Britain's upcoming exit from the European Union and concerns over a possible slowdown in the global technology sector weighed on equities, prompting investors to seek refuge in bullion.
Spot gold XAU= was up 0.3% at $1,492.01 per ounce as of 1146 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 rose 0.5% to $1,495 per ounce.
"There is a bit of risk aversion in equity markets and gold is up again after consolidating over last few days," said Julius Baer analyst Carsten Menke. "There are some bargain hunters in the gold market, especially as equities are down today."
European shares dipped for the first time this week as a profit warning from Texas Instruments TXN.O raised worries about the global microchip industry, while UK lawmakers hit the pause button on Brexit. .EU Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday it was up to the EU to decide whether it wanted to delay Brexit and for how long, after a defeat in parliament made ratification of his deal by an Oct. 31 deadline almost impossible. China's Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said on Tuesday Beijing and Washington had achieved some progress in trade talks. tariffs between both the countries have rattled financial markets and stirred global recessionary fears.
"The U.S.-China trade truce that was agreed a few weeks ago weighed a little bit on sentiment in the gold market, but we need to acknowledge that this was more of a paper deal at least for now," Menke said.
"The tariffs and the growth uncertainty remain in place so this is still positive for gold."
Investors are awaiting the U.S. Federal Reserve's meeting at the end of the month to see if the central bank will cut rates for a third time this year. FEDWATCH
David Govett, head of precious metals at Marex Spectron, said market players were expecting the Fed to cut again.
"So if they don't, it will be short-term negative for gold," Govett said. "If they do, it won't be as bullish because it is already written into the markets.
"We're going to see gold make a move back up above $1,500; there's too much going on in the world for it to stay down here."
Elsewhere, silver XAG= was up 0.1% at $17.53 an ounce. Platinum XPT= fell 0.1% to $890.55 and palladium XPD= was down 0.4% at $1,747.96 per ounce.