Aug 20 (Reuters) - Gold prices inched lower on Wednesday

to their lowest level in nearly three weeks as the dollar

strengthened, while investors awaited the Federal Reserve's

Jackson Hole symposium later this week for clues on the path for

monetary policy.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Spot gold was down 0.1% at $3,312.79 per ounce, as

of 0035 GMT, after reaching its lowest level since August 1.

* U.S. gold futures for December delivery fell 0.1%

to $3,355.20.

* The U.S. dollar index climbed to its highest level

in more than a week, making gold less affordable for buyers

using other currencies.

* Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole

symposium through August 21-23 is the main focus, with investors

watching for any pushback against market pricing of a rate cut

next month.

* Minutes of the Fed's July meeting, due later in the day,

are anticipated to offer further insights into the central

bank's policy stance.

* Interest rate futures point to two rate cuts of 25 basis

points each this year, with the first one expected in September.

* Gold typically performs well in a low-interest-rate

environment and amid heightened uncertainties.

* U.S. President Donald Trump ruled out deploying ground

troops to Ukraine on Tuesday but suggested air support could be

part of a deal to end Russia's war in the region.

* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the White

House talks as a "major step forward" towards ending Europe's

deadliest conflict in 80 years and setting up a trilateral

meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump.

* Elsewhere, spot silver held steady at $37.35 per

ounce, platinum gained 0.3% to $1,309.35 and palladium

was down 0.4% to $1,110.50.

DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

0100 China loan prime rate 1Y, 5Y August

0600 UK core CPI, CPI YY July

0600 UK CPI services MM, YY July

0900 EU HICP final MM, YY July

(Reporting by Anmol Choubey in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu

Sahu)