PRECIOUS-Gold gains on softer dollar as market ponders Trump tariffs

* U.S. dollar trades near one-week low * Stable unemployment rate may justify gradual easing process - analyst * US nonfarm payrolls report due on Friday (Updates with mid-session trading) By Rahul Paswan Jan 7 (Reuters) - Gold prices rose on Tuesday, helped by a weaker U.S. dollar as traders pondered whether President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans would be less aggressive while awaiting U.S. jobs data to gauge the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory. Spot gold XAU= was up 0.1% at $2,638.09 per ounce, as of 0754 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 rose 0.1% to $2,650.00. "Gold prices have managed to stabilise amid some cooling off in the U.S. dollar overnight, but higher U.S. Treasury yields may remain a key overhang for further gains," IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said. USD/ The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield hit the highest since May 2024 on Monday, while the dollar hovered near a one-week low. US/ The dollar slid against its peers after a report said that Trump's aides were exploring plans that would apply tariffs only on sectors seen as critical to U.S. national or economic security. However, Trump denied the report, deepening uncertainty about future U.S. trade policies. Bullion is considered a hedge against uncertainty and inflation, but high interest rates reduce the non-yielding asset's appeal. Investors are awaiting the U.S. jobs report, due on Friday, which could help shed more light on the Fed's policy path. U.S. job openings data is also scheduled for release later in the day, while ADP employment numbers and minutes from the Fed's December meeting are expected on Wednesday. "The U.S. nonfarm payrolls will be the key risk event this week and a stable unemployment rate at 4.2% may justify a more gradual rate-cutting process, which could see gold prices consolidate further within its tight range for now," Yeap said. Last month, the U.S. central bank projected fewer rate cuts in 2025, with policymakers expressing concerns over still-high inflation. Spot silver XAG= gained 0.6% to $30.11 per ounce, platinum XPT= climbed 0.7% to $940.10 and palladium XPD= ticked up 0.1% to $921.91. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Spot gold price in USD per oz https://reut.rs/40mTV67 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Rahul Paswan in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Swati Verma; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips, Sonia Cheema and Subhranshu Sahu) (([email protected] ; If within U.S. +1 646 223 8780;;))