Gold was steady at $1,282.20 an
ounce by 0038 GMT, having jumped about 1 percent on Tuesday on
chart-based buying before paring gains. Prices hit a two-month low of
$1,273.06 on Aug. 21 on speculation of an eventual increase in U.S.
interest rates.
* The Conference Board's measure of U.S. consumer confidence rose more than expected in August, hitting its highest level since October 2007. Separately, orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods posted their biggest gain on record in July.
* Speculation is growing that the European Central Bank is preparing a programme of large-scale asset purchases to weaken the euro and try to jump-start growth in the struggling euro zone.
* President Barack Obama vowed "justice will be done" against the Islamic State killers of American journalist James Foley on Tuesday as the United States sought to identify targets for potential airstrikes in Syria.
* The Conference Board's measure of U.S. consumer confidence rose more than expected in August, hitting its highest level since October 2007. Separately, orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods posted their biggest gain on record in July.
* Speculation is growing that the European Central Bank is preparing a programme of large-scale asset purchases to weaken the euro and try to jump-start growth in the struggling euro zone.