Gold held steady in early Asian trade on Monday ​after hitting a seven-week ​peak on Friday, as investors awaited key inflation ​reports due later this week for interest rate clues.FUNDAMENTALSSpot gold was little changed at $4,339.59 per ounce, as of 0017 GMT, after a more ‌than 7% ⁠gain last ⁠week.Bullion hit its highest since June 17 on Friday after weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs data reduced expectations for interest rate hikes.U.S. gold futures were ​flat at $4,399.40.Data on Friday showed the U.S. economy unexpectedly shed jobs in July and previously reported job gains for ​the prior two months were revised sharply ⁠lower.Following ‌the data release, futures markets flipped the odds ​of a ​rate hike at the September 15-16 Federal ⁠Open Market Committee meeting from likelier-than-not to a worse-than-even chance.​A lower interest rate environment boosts the attractiveness ​of gold against income-generating assets, as bullion itself earns no interest.Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin said hiring data for July represented a continuation of recent trends.Key U.S. inflation data due this week include the ‌Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI).On the geopolitical front, Iran said it was nearing ​a final pact ​with Oman defining ⁠new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz but repeated that the U.S. must meet other conditions, including compensation and ​an end to sanctions and military threats, before the strategic waterway is reopened.Among other metals, spot silver rose 0.5% to $63.85 per ounce, platinum gained 0.2% to $1,748.25 and palladium slipped 0.5% to $1,371.16.DATA/EVENTS (GMT)0800 China Total Social Financing Jul0800 China M2 Money Supply YY Jul0800 China New Yuan Loans Jul