PRECIOUS-Gold ticks up as Fed rate cut bets burnish appeal

* Further US economic weakness to lift gold prices- analyst * May US retail sales softer than expected * Weekly jobless claims data due on Thursday (Updates prices and graphic as of 0631 GMT) By Sherin Elizabeth Varghese June 19 (Reuters) - Gold prices edged higher on Wednesday after softer U.S. retail sales data boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this year. Spot gold XAU= was up 0.1% at $2,328.67 per ounce, as of 0631 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 fell 0.2% to $2,33.30. Data released on Tuesday showed U.S. retail sales barely rose in May, suggesting that economic activity remained lacklustre in the second quarter. "Weaker Treasury yields overnight and subdued moves around the U.S. dollar following a disappointing U.S. retail sales read seem to offer room for some relief in the yellow metal," said IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong. US/ USD/ "While U.S. policymakers have guided for only one rate cut through 2024, market rate expectations are leaning more dovish, which seems to be finding validation from pockets of economic weakness presented. Further economic weakness may offer a lift for gold prices." Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. FEDWATCH With recent data showing a moderation in the labour market and price pressures, the Federal Reserve is looking for further confirmation that inflation is cooling. Market focus is now on the weekly jobless claims data on Thursday and flash purchasing managers' indexes on Friday. Gold prices have entered a consolidation phase after hitting a record high of $2,449.89 on May 20. On June 7, data showed that China's central bank paused gold purchases for its reserves in May after 18 months of buying, sending bullion to its biggest daily drop since November 2020. "Central bank buying of gold took a breather in May and any continuation of this trend poses a risk to the pace of upside momentum in the gold price," Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, said in a note. Spot silver XAG= was down 0.5% at $29.37 per ounce, platinum XPT= rose 0.1% to $973.05 and palladium XPD= lost 0.1% to $885.88. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Spot gold price in USD per oz https://reut.rs/45ukozw ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Sherin Elizabeth Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) (([email protected];))