Gold prices edged higher on Tuesday to hover near all-time highs, as strong safe-haven demand and hopes of further interest rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Reserve boosted demand for the precious metal.FUNDAMENTALS* Spot gold was up 0.2% at $4,363.58 per ounce, as of 0106 GMT, having hit a record high of $4,381.21 on Monday.

U.S. gold futures for December delivery added 0.5% to $4,379 per ounce. The U.S. government shutdown stretched to its 20th day on Monday, after senators failed for the tenth time last week to break the impasse. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Monday the shutdown was likely to end this week.

The shutdown has delayed key economic data releases, leaving investors and policymakers in a data vacuum ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting next week

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