Gold prices edged higher on Wednesday after shedding nearly 1 per cent in the previous session, as it remained unclear if Britain could avoid postponing its departure from the EU beyond Oct. 31.

FUNDAMENTALS

Spot gold was up 0.2 per cent at $1,484.49 per ounce as of 0130 GMT. US gold futures were 0.3 per cent higher at $1,488.10 per ounce.

Asian shares were upbeat as Britain and the EU made headway on a Brexit deal ahead of a leaders' summit. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.3 per cent.

Last-ditch talks between Britain and the European Union to get a Brexit deal ahead of a summit of the bloc's leaders this week went on past midnight to Wednesday, but it was still unclear if London could avoid postponing its departure due on Oct. 31.

Media reports quoting EU officials as saying negotiators were close to a Brexit deal triggered a late afternoon rally across equity markets on Tuesday.

Across the Atlantic, the US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed four pieces of legislation taking a hard line on China, three related to pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and one commending Canada's government in a dispute over the extradition of an executive from Huawei Technologies.

Reports of a "Phase 1" trade deal between the United States and China last week had initially cheered markets but the dearth of details around the agreement has since curbed this enthusiasm.

With two weeks to go until their next policy meeting, US central bankers appear unconvinced a partial US-China trade deal is enough to dispel the policy uncertainty that has weighed on economic growth for months.

SPDR Gold Trust GLD, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.22 per cent on Tuesday from Monday.

Palladium eased on Wednesday to $1,732.56 per ounce after hitting a record high of $1,739.93 in the previous session.