Silver futures tilted higher in Asian trade as the dollar index inched lower, following trade data from China, the world's largest metals consumer, and ahead of US import prices, consumer sentiment data, while markets await the G20 meeting for finance ministers in Bali.

As of 05:20 GMT, silver futures due in December rose 0.06% to $14.62 an ounce, while the dollar index shed 0.05% to 94.97, marking September 28 lows. 

Earlier Chinese data showed the trade surplus widened to 213 billion yuan, or $30.9 billion, from 180 billion yuan, or $26.1 billion in August, easily beating estimates of $12.3 billion. 

Now investors await US imports prices data, expected with a 0.3% monthly increase in September, compared to a 0.6% dip in August, while expected with a 3.1% yearly increase, down from 3.7%. 

The UoM consumer sentiment survey is expected to increase to 100.4 from 100.1 in September. 

Silver prices marked the best performance yesterday since late September, as investors shun risks and the stock markets tumble globally. 

US President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of the Federal Reserve's policy tightening, accusing them and the treasury department of making the most problems for America, even over the trade dispute with China. 

In a Pennsylvania rally, Trump said the Federal Reserve has gone "crazy" with its latest rate hikes, while noting that stocks are undergoing a normal correction after a succession of record highs. 

Otherwise, International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde expressed her support for China's moves to maintain the flexibility of its exchange rate, while noting the Fed's decisions shouldn't be considered "crazy". 

On Sunday, the People's Bank of China cut reserve requirements for Chinese banks for the fourth time this year amid attempts to ease policies and bolster spending. 

The IMF cut its forecasts for global growth for this year and the next for the first time in two years, with US and Chinese economies the most important downgrades alongside the euro zone due to rising trade protectionism. 

Gold futures tilted lower in Asian trade on profit-taking after marking the best performance yesterday since June 2016, while the dollar index traded mostly flat off August 20 highs. 

That comes after earlier Chinese trade data, the world's biggest metals consumer, and ahead of US inflation data, while markets await the G20 meeting for finance ministers in Bali.

As of 04:31 GMT, gold futures due in December fell 0.34% to $1,223.40 an ounce away from early August highs, while the index barely shed 0.02% to 94.99, marking September 28 lows. 

Earlier Chinese data showed the trade surplus widened to 213 billion yuan, or $30.9 billion, from 180 billion yuan, or $26.1 billion in August, easily beating estimates of $12.3 billion. 

Now investors await US imports prices data, expected with a 0.3% monthly increase in September, compared to a 0.6% dip in August, while expected with a 3.1% yearly increase, down from 3.7%. 

The UoM consumer sentiment survey is expected to increase to 100.4 from 100.1 in September. 

Gold prices surged $30 yesterday, putting them on track for second weekly gains as investors shun risks and the stock markets tumble globally. 

US President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of the Federal Reserve's policy tightening, accusing them and the treasury department of making the most problems for America, even over the trade dispute with China. 

In a Pennsylvania rally, Trump said the Federal Reserve has gone "crazy" with its latest rate hikes, while noting that stocks are undergoing a normal correction after a succession of record highs. 

Otherwise, International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde expressed her support for China's moves to maintain the flexibility of its exchange rate, while noting the Fed's decisions shouldn't be considered "crazy". 

On Sunday, the People's Bank of China cut reserve requirements for Chinese banks for the fourth time this year amid attempts to ease policies and bolster spending. 

The IMF cut its forecasts for global growth for this year and the next for the first time in two years, with US and Chinese economies the most important downgrades alongside the euro zone due to rising trade protectionism. 

Australian dollar tilted higher in Asian trade versus its US counterpart, heading for the first weekly profit in three, following earlier data from Australia while markets await the G20 meeting for finance ministers in Bali.

As of 02:23 GMT, AUD/USD shed 0.10% to 0.7117, with an intraday low at 0.7115, and a high at 0.7131. 

An index tracking house loans in Australia fell 2.1% in August, compared to no change in July, and missing estimates of a 0.9% dip. while Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe welcomed the surge in US dollar. 

Reserve Bank of Australia's Assistant Governor Luci Ellis participated in a panel discussion titled "Delivering Growth with Equity" at the Melbourne Institute's Economic and Social Outlook Conference, where she focused on the issue of supporting growth in both short and long terms, while cautioning that monetary policy alone can't increase the upward limits for performance and productivity. 

Now investors US imports prices data, expected with a 0.3% monthly increase in September, compared to a 0.6% dip in August, while expected with a 3.1% yearly increase, down from 3.7%. 

The UoM consumer sentiment survey is expected to increase to 100.4 from 100.1 in September. 

US stock indices closed the fourth session of the week sharply lower as a selloff wave storms the markets for the second session on concerns of policy tightening and US-China trade dispute. 

Hurricane Michael has been also barreling towards Florida, expected to have some serious damage and leading to the halting of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. 

US Inflation, Labor Data 

Other US data showed consumer prices rose 0.1%, slowing down from 0.2%, while core prices rose 0.1%, also missing estimates of 0.2%. 

On a yearly basis, consumer prices rose 2.3%, slowing down from 2.7%, while core prices rose 2.2%, below expectations of 2.3%. 

Unemployment claims rose 7 thousand in the week ending October 6 to 214 thousand, while continuing claims rose 4K in the week ending September 29 to 1.660 million.

US President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of the Federal Reserve's policy tightening, accusing them and the treasury secretary of making the most problems for America, even over the trade dispute with China. 

In a Pennsylvania rally, Trump said the Federal Reserve has gone "crazy" with its latest rate hikes, while noting that stocks are undergoing a normal correction after a succession of record highs. 

Otherwise, International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde expressed her support for China's moves to maintain the flexibility of its exchange rate, while noting the Fed's decisions shouldn't be considered "crazy". 

In another note, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he wasn't surprised by the sharp correction in the stock market, maintaining that the US economy's foundation are very strong despite what recent market volatility would've insinuated.  

On Sunday, the People's Bank of China cut reserve requirements for Chinese banks for the fourth time this year amid attempts to ease policies and bolster spending. 

The International Monetary Fund cut its forecasts for global growth for this year and the next for the first time in two years, with US and Chinese economies the most important downgrades alongside the euro zone due to rising trade protectionism. 

 Indices, Commodities 

Dow Jones fell 2.13%, or 545.91 points to 25,052.83, while S&P 500 shed 2.06%, or 57.31 points to 2,728.37. NASDAQ Composite tumbled 1.25%, or 92.99 points to 7,329.06. 

Gold futures due in December rose 2.82% to $1,227.00 an ounce, marking early August highs, while the dollar index fell 0.52% to 95.01 to September 28 lows

US crude futures due in November slumped 3.13% to $70.88 a barrel to September 21 lows, while Brent December futures swooned 3.49% to $80.19 a barrel to September 21 lows.