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Gold prices held above the key $1,900 per ounce level on Tuesday as expectations of less-aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes after the collapse of two big U.S. regional banks lifted non-yielding bullion's appeal.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Spot gold was flat at $1,913.54 per ounce, as of 0053 GMT. U.S. gold futures were also listless at $1,916.20.

* Gold prices jumped more than 2% on Monday to hit their highest since Feb. 3 at $1,914.58 despite efforts by U.S. officials to limit the fallout from the now-shuttered Silicon Valley Bank and restore investor confidence in the banking system. Regulators had shuttered New York-based Signature Bank on Sunday.

* HSBC bought the UK arm of Silicon Valley Bank for a symbolic one pound on Monday, rescuing a key lender for technology start-ups in Britain.

* Markets are now largely pricing in a 25-basis-point rate hike at next week's Fed policy meeting, with a 31.4% chance of a pause in hikes.

* Gold is considered a hedge against economic uncertainties, and tends to gain on expectations of lower interest rates, which reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

* The U.S. consumer price index (CPI) report for February due at 1230 GMT will be closely watched for cues on the Fed's rate-hike plan.

* The dollar index was up 0.2%, making bullion more expensive for buyers holding other currencies. [USD/]

* SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 1.31% to 913.27 tonnes on Monday from 901.42 tonnes on Friday. [GOL/ETF]

* Spot silver edged up 0.1% to $21.83 per ounce, platinum eased 0.1% to $995.21 and palladium was unchanged at $1,473.33.

DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

0700 UK ILO Unemployment Rate Jan

0700 UK HMRC Payrolls Change Feb

1230 US Core CPI MM, SA Feb

1230 US Core CPI YY, NSA Feb

1230 US CPI Wage Earner Feb