December 18, 2018 (MLN): Gold prices edged up slightly on Tuesday ahead of a key U.S. Federal Reserve meeting, as speculation that signs of economic turbulence may prompt the central bank to put brakes soon on its monetary tightening cycle kept the dollar under pressure.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is widely expected to raise interest rates at its two-day meeting starting later in the day, but the focus will be on its outlook for 2019.

Spot gold was up 0.2 percent at $1,248.14 per ounce at 0436 GMT, while U.S. gold futures inched 0.1 percent higher to $1,252.2 per ounce.

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