Gold gains ground as dollar slips in Asia

Gold futures gained ground as the dollar index inched down, following policy decisions by Bank of Japan and ahead of US housing data. 

As of 06:24 GMT, gold futures due in December rose 0.46% to $1,1208.40 an ounce, while the dollar index shed 0.12% to 94.53 against a basket of major rivals. 

Bank of Japan voted today to hold interest rates at minus 0.10% for the 16th meeting in a row as expected by market analysts, while introducing more flexibility in the monetary policy. 

Now markets await US housing starts data, expected with a 5.7% increase to 1.235 million units in August, while building permits are estimated with a 0.5% increase to 1.310 million. 

Yesterday, the White House announced new 10% tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, to be increased to 25%, after the US already imposed 25% tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, with China retaliating with 5-10% tariffs on $60 billion worth of US products. 

President Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on $267 billion worth of Chinese imports if Beijing retaliated to the latest ones. 

US trade secretary Wilbur Ross said China "is out of bullets" to retaliate against US tariffs, noting that the measures are intended to change Chinese behavior, with close studying to guarantee limited increases to inflation. 

China filed another complaint against the US to the World Trade Organization, which isn't the first time China has done such a move.