Gold prices climbed to a new eight-month high ahead of the release of the US consumer price data.

Gold prices rise, maintains uptrend

The values of the gold's chart was helped by a weaker dollar. Obviously not all investors share the bulls' optimism about the inflation component in the United States. The report is expected to provide more clues to the Federal Reserve's rate-hike path.

Spot gold was up 0.6% at $1,886.62 per ounce by 1249 GMT, after hitting its highest since May 6 earlier in the session. US gold futures rose by the same amount to $1890.10.

Despite the stock markets' optimism, we see gold gaining ground due to investor caution ahead of the key US inflation report.

The US dollar has fallen near seven-month lows against its peers, making gold more attractive for other currency holders. The precious metal continues to trade around the $1,880 resistance level and may remain buoyed by a shaky dollar. Nevertheless, prices remain bullish and could push higher if inflation continues to cool in the largest economy in the world.

Data on the US consumer price index will be published at 13:30 GMT. Experts agree that consumer prices rose 6.5% year-on-year in December, moderating from a 7.1% rise in November.

The head of the Boston Fed believes that a quarter percentage point interest rate hike at the central bank's upcoming policy meeting looks like the most plausible scenario.

Money market participants see a 75% chance the Fed will raise the benchmark rate by 25 basis points in February.

In fact, if lower-than-expected CPI results are announced, we could see the gold price above $1900 in as little as a month. However, any upward move is likely to be very short-term as investors will lock in profits.

Silver also rose, adding 1.3% to $23.73 per ounce, platinum was unchanged at $1,071.16 and palladium added 0.3% to $1,779.09.