FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold was flat at $1,705.77 per ounce, as of 0032 GMT. U.S. gold futures fell 0.3% to $1,709.20.
* The U.S. consumer price index (CPI) report for October due at 1330 GMT could likely provide some cues on the Federal Reserve’s rate hike plan.
* Economists are expecting a deceleration in both the monthly and yearly core inflation to 0.5% and 6.5%, respectively.
* Rising interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding bullion, while lifting returns on other yielding assets.
* Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams welcomed the relative stability of longer-term inflation expectations on Wednesday while signaling some puzzlement over data showing a notable number of Americans expect an outright decline in price pressures at some point.
* Inflation expectations among euro zone consumers continued to rise in September, even as economic growth and income forecasts declined markedly, a new European Central Bank survey showed on Wednesday.
* Spot silver was flat at $21.00. Platinum rose 0.1% to $985.90 and palladium was up 0.2% to$1,867.75.
