PRECIOUS-Gold regains some ground as dollar stalls

* Focus shifts to U.S. CPI data due on Wednesday

* Spot gold may revisit Monday low of $1,684.37/oz – technicals

* Silver rebounds from an eight-month low hit on Monday

* Gold to remain under pressure in the near term – analyst (Updates prices)

Aug 10 (Reuters) – Gold on Tuesday rebounded from sharp sell-offs in the last two sessions as a dollar rally cooled, although fears of a sooner-than-expected U.S. interest rate hike capped further gains.

Spot gold was up 0.4% at $1,736.65 per ounce by 659 GMT, while U.S. gold futures rose 0.6% to $1,737.10.

“We are seeing some short-covering taking place right now in the market after correction post-U.S. payrolls data,” said Kunal Shah of commodities trader Nirmal Bang Commodities in Mumbai.

“We are also seeing some bargain buying. But gains are not going to be sustained, and in the near-term gold is expected to remain under pressure because of tapering talks in the United States.”

Gold prices fell more than 4% in the last session after better-than-expected U.S. jobs figures bolstered expectations for an early tapering of the Federal Reserve’s economic support measures.

Two Fed officials said the U.S. economy is growing rapidly and while the labour market still has room for improvement, inflation is already at a level that could satisfy one leg of a key test for the beginning of interest rate hikes.

Investors now shift their focus to U.S. consumer inflation data due on Wednesday.

Though gold is viewed as a hedge against higher inflation, a Fed rate hike would dull its appeal as it increases the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding metal.

The dollar index was broadly flat after solid gains in the last two sessions, making gold more affordable to holders of other currencies.

Spot gold may revisit its Monday-low of $1,684.37 per ounce, driven by a wave C, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.

Silver gained 0.8% to $23.61 per ounce after falling to an eight-month low on Monday.

Platinum rose 1.3% to $992.95, and palladium was up nearly 1% at $2,626.33.

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