Bloomberg said US president Donald Trump was open to extending a March 1 deadline on raising tariffs, and reported lawmakers had also reached an agreement in principle on border security funding to avoid a second US government shutdown.
"....Will be getting almost $23 BILLION for border security. Regardless of wall money, it is being built as we speak!" Trump tweeted several hours ago.
In London, metals and mining stocks on the FTSE100 closed up 0.23% yesterday, where Glencore (LSE: GLEN) rose 0.64%.
The gold price is relatively steady at US$1,312 an ounce on the spot market.
Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM) was down 0.77% yesterday in New York.
In Toronto, the gold sector's drop of 1.44% pulled the metals and mining stocks lower overall, down 1.02%.
The gold equities were book-ended by New Gold's (TSX: NGD) gain of 5.56% and Yamana Gold's (TSX: YRI) drop of 5.48%, both moves on no news.
However Australian gold miners were collectively higher in midday trade, led by Northern Star Resources' (ASX: NST) rise of about 6.5% following strong half-year results.
