PRECIOUS-Gold extends gains into New Year as traders brace for Trump policies

* Bullion rose over 27% in 2024 * Gold likely to remain bullish in 2025 - analyst * Traders expect Fed to proceed cautiously with rate cuts in 2025 (Updates with mid-session trading) By Daksh Grover Jan 2 (Reuters) - Gold prices rose on Thursday, keeping up the momentum from a positive end to record-breaking 2024, as traders braced for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's expected policy shifts that will shape the economic and interest rate outlook for the new year. Bullion surged over 27% last year, its biggest annual gain since 2010, as the U.S. Federal Reserve's substantial rate cuts, robust central bank purchases and escalating geopolitical tensions boosted it to multiple record highs last year. On the first trading session of the year, spot gold XAU= rose 0.4% to $2,634.88 per ounce, as of 0553 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 edged up 0.2% to $2,646.70. "Gold seems to be consolidating in a tight range, which often signals a market that's poised for a breakout. I suspect that breakout will be to the upside," said Kyle Rodda, financial market analyst at Capital.com. Gold is likely to remain bullish in 2025, driven by geopolitical risks and expectations of rising government debt due to a deep fiscal deficit under Trump’s administration, despite potential challenges from slower Fed rate cuts and dollar strength, Rodda said. The market will now take cues from a slew of U.S. economic data due next week, which could influence the interest rate outlook for 2025, and Trump's tariff policies. Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States on Jan. 20. Traders anticipate the Fed to adopt a slow and cautious approach to further rate cuts in 2025, as inflation continues to exceed its 2% target. According to the CME's FedWatch Tool, markets are pricing in just 11.2% chance of a cut in January. Gold, which is seen as a safe investment in times of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, tends to be negatively impacted by high interest rates. Spot silver XAG= rose 1.6% to $29.34 per ounce, palladium XPD= added 1.1% to $913.47 and platinum XPT= gained 0.9% to $918.65. Silver ended 2024 as its best year since 2020, while platinum and palladium declined. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Spot gold price in USD per oz https://reut.rs/4a21CC3 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Daksh Grover in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Swati Verma; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu, Varun H K and Eileen Soreng) (([email protected];))