Bangkok--18 May--WeeM
* Gold was little changed at $929.70 per ounce at 0015 GMT, compared with New York's notional close of $930.70 on Friday, when prices climbed to their highest level in six weeks after data showed U.S. core inflation in April rose more than expected.
* U.S. gold futures for June delivery were at $930.50 per ounce, compared with $931.30 an ounce on
the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange on Friday.
* The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust, said its holdings stood at 1,105.62 tonnes as of May 15, unchanged from the previous business day.
MARKET NEWS
* The Nikkei opened down 1.06 percent.
* U.S. stocks stumbled on Friday as energy shares dropped along with oil prices on worries about weak demand, overshadowing fresh reassuring economic data.
* The dollar and yen rose on Friday as worries persisted about global economic prospects after more evidence of recession in Europe and the U.S. triggered stock losses across the globe,prompting investors to seek shelter in the yen in particular.
* Speculators boosted their holdings in U.S. gold futures, with noncommercial investors net long on 138,877 contracts of gold futures in the week to May 12, compared to a net long of 129,991 contracts in the week to May 5.
* China should boost its gold holdings to 3 percent of its total foreign exchange reserves within five years, compared with 1.6 percent now, Sun Zhaoxue, chairman of the China Gold Association, told reporters on Friday.
YLG Bullion with LBMA certified gold 653/14 Suanphu Soi 1, Suanphu Road, Toongmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok Thailand 10120