Jan 13 (Reuters) - Gold prices edged higher on Friday and were on track for a fourth weekly gain, supported by a weaker dollar and expectations of slower interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve. FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,897.92 per ounce, as of 0045 GMT. Prices gained 1.7% so far this week.
* U.S. gold futures rose 0.2% to $1,901.80.
* The dollar index was on track for a weekly loss of 1.6%. A weaker greenback makes bullion more attractive to overseas buyers.
* U.S consumer prices fell for the first time in more than 2-1/2 years in December, offering hope that inflation was now on a sustained downward trend.
* Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank president Raphael Bostic said on Thursday that the inflation data may allow the Fed to scale back to quarter-point rate hikes at its upcoming meeting.
* Gold is seen as an inflation hedge, but higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding the asset.
* SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.03% to 912.14 tonnes on Thursday.
* Spot silver edged 0.2% higher to $23.82, platinum gained 0.4% to $1,071.74 and palladium slipped 0.6% to $1,782.13.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
0300 China Exports, Imports YY Dec
0300 China Trade Balance Dec
0700 UK GDP Est 3M/3M Nov
0700 UK GDP Estimate MM, YY Nov
0700 UK Manufacturing Output MM Nov
0745 France CPI (EU Norm) Final MM, YY Dec
1000 EU Total Trade Balance SA Nov
1330 US Import Prices YY Dec
1500 US U Mich Sentiment Prelim Jan (Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
