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Gold prices rose on Tuesday after falling over 1% in the previous session, as the dollar eased while investors awaited this week's U.S. inflation data that could influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy trajectory.

Spot gold was up 0.4% at $1,997.69 per ounce, as of 0304 GMT. U.S. gold futures rose 0.4% to $2,012.30.

The dollar index was 0.1% lower, making bullion cheaper for overseas buyers. [USD/]

Traders are now focussing on the U.S. consumer price data due Wednesday for more clarity on the path of rates heading into the Fed's May policy meeting.

"A hotter-than-expected print may suggest that the Fed could still hike rates once more in May... gold's rally higher has been somewhat excessive... chances of another Fed hike could kind of bring the overshoot down," said OCBC FX strategist Christopher Wong.

A U.S. employment report released on Friday pointed to a tight labour market and raised bets of an interest rate hike by the U.S. central bank next month. Markets are pricing in a 71% chance of a 25 basis-point hike, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

The opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding bullion rises when interest rates are increased to bring down inflation.

Minutes of the Fed's March 21-22 policy meeting will also be scanned on Wednesday.

"Near-term, there are also bearish technical setups for a corrective move lower" in gold prices, OCBC's Wong added.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said on Monday that financial system troubles that drove the central bank to provide large amounts of credit to banks were not collateral damage from the Fed's aggressive effort to lower inflation.

Data on Tuesday showed top bullion consumer China's March consumer inflation hit the slowest pace since September 2021 and suggested demand weakness persisted amid an uneven economic recovery.

Spot silver rose 0.2% to $24.94 per ounce, platinum added 0.4% at $995.71 and palladium gained 1.4% to $1,431.54.