Gold edges up as Yellen comments shore up dollar

By Clara Denina LONDON (Reuters) - Gold prices rose sightly on Monday, even as the dollar gained traction against major currency rivals on signs the U.S. Federal Reserve is preparing to tighten monetary policy for the first time in six years in 2015. Fed Chair Janet Yellen indicated on Friday that the U.S. central bank was poised to raise rates this year, with the world's largest economy set to bounce back from an early-2015 slump. Higher U.S. interest rates increases the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. Spot gold was up 0.2 percent at $1,206.80 an ounce by 1826 GMT, just above a near-two-week low of $1,201.20 hit in the previous session. It posted its biggest weekly drop in a month last week, down 1.4 percent. Liquidity was thin with British and U.S. markets shut for holidays. "The Fed raising the rates is certainly not electrifying news for the precious metal, which is on track to extend its biggest weekly decline since April," AvaTrade chief market analyst Naeem Aslam said. "Yellen last week has confirmed that she is still confident that the rates will rise this year and (gold) traders are not fond of this news at all." The prospect of higher rates later in 2015 boosted the dollar to its highest in a month against a basket of major currencies on Monday. Stronger-than-expected underlying U.S. inflation and persisting Greek debt worries also supported the greenback. A stronger dollar makes gold more expensive for holders of other currencies, while diminishing the metal's appeal as an hedge against risk. In the physical markets, gold demand across Asia was soft as investors channel their money towards higher-yielding stock markets. [GOL/AS] Indian gold jewellery demand in the second half of the year could take a hit as the Hindu calendar shows the number of dates seen as being auspicious for weddings will drop 40 percent in the second half from a year earlier. In other Asia-related news, China has established a fund that is expected to raise about $16 billion for gold-backed investment as part of its "Silk Road" initiative to develop trade and transport infrastructure across Asia and beyond, official media reported. Silver was up 0.8 percent at $17.12 an ounce, after falling 2.2 percent last week. Platinum rose 0.3 percent to $1,145.50 an ounce and palladium rose 0.3 percent to $785.98 an ounce. (Additional reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi in Singapore, Veronica Brown in London and Scott Haggett in Calgary; Editing by Mark Potter, William Hardy and Marguerita Choy)