Gold traded steady, consolidating three days of growth, as traders weighed the imminent restart of the US government and the prospect of further interest-rate cuts in a subdued labour market.

Bullion rose above $4,145 an ounce in early trading on Wednesday before paring gains. Data from ADP Research showed US companies shed 11,250 jobs per week on average in the four weeks ended Oct. 25, reinforcing concerns about weakness in the American labour market. This could enhance the prospect of further rate cuts — a positive for gold, which doesn’t pay interest.

But investors are also awaiting a flurry of official data when the US government ends the longest shutdown in its history. The restart – expected within days after the Senate passed a temporary funding measure – would remove the need fo

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