PRECIOUS-Gold holds below $3,000 ahead of Fed rate decision

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Fed likely to hold rates this week

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No guarantees that there will not be US recession - Bessent

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Trump will speak with Putin about ceasefire proposal

(Updates with US morning trade)

By Daksh Grover

March 17 (Reuters) - Gold prices were steady on Monday, sitting just below the $3,000 mark that was finally broken last week, with the focus on trade tariffs and the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting.

Spot gold edged up 0.1% to $2,987.13 an ounce by 09:29 p.m. ET (1329 GMT), having hit a record high of $3,004.86 on Friday.

U.S. gold futures eased 0.2% to $2,994.70.

The Federal Reserve will give its new economic projections this week, which will provide the most tangible evidence yet of how U.S. central bankers view the likely impact of President Donald Trump's policies that have clouded a previously solid economic outlook.

There are "no guarantees" there will not be a recession in the United States, although there could be an adjustment, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday.

"I expect some consolidation in gold prices...Right now, the market is in a "wait-and-see" mode ahead of the Fed's decision," said David Meger, director of metals trading at High Ridge Futures.

Markets expect the U.S. central bank to hold interest rates on Wednesday, with the next cut in June.

Zero-yield bullion is considered a hedge against uncertainty and tends to thrive in a low-interest environment.

Data showed U.S. retail sales rebounded by less than expected in February, signalling moderate economic growth despite import tariffs and federal worker layoffs dampening sentiment.

"Should economic data continue to soften and the global tariff war escalate, gold will continue to benefit," analysts at Heraeus Metals said in a note.

Trump, meanwhile, said he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Spot silver fell 1.01% to $33.44 an ounce and palladium was down 0.38% to $961.50, while platinum added 0.3% to $996.45.

(Reporting by Daksh Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)