At the time the alliance with the far-right -- then led by the late, SS-admiring Joerg Haider -- ostracised Austria.Some 6.Pushing far-right themes, the ambitious politician wants to cut benefits for all foreigners and shut Islamic kindergartens.But its return may not trigger the same backlash now that nationalists have gained ground across Europe.Vienna: Austrians were voting Sunday in a snap election tipped to see conservative Sebastian Kurz, 31, become the EU China Thermoset mold Suppliers youngest leader and form # an alliance with the far-right, in the bloc's latest populist test.'Captures people.

Polls opened at 0400 GMT and close at 1500 GMT, with first estimates expected shortly afterwards."But the question is whether there is any getting around Strache after this election.Open hostility between the ex-railway chief and Kurz also makes any new attempt at ruling together seem unlikely.Experts say their union could turn Austria into a tricky partner for the bloc.Read: Austria polls: Right-wing wave approaching on Sunday?Founded by ex-Nazis, the FPOe almost won the presidency last year and topped opinion polls before Kurz stole votes with his radical OeVP makeover in spring.

Emperor Kurz’ on path to lead Austria"I am feeling optimistic," OeVP party volunteer Michael Brandstetter said in Vienna.Strache thinks Britain "will probably be better off after Brexit" and pushes for closer ties with eastern and central European countries.For his turquoise movement, he drew young candidates from outside politics and vowed to put "Austrians first" again."As foreign minister, Kurz claims credit for closing the so-called western Balkan migrant route in 2016, earning him praise at home.Kern, in office since last May, issued a final warning Saturday against a right-wing alliance, saying "Austria was at the most important crossroads in decades".The People's Party (OeVP) -- rebranded by Kurz as his personal "movement" -- is projected to reap more than 30 percent of the vote with pledges to go tough on migrants and easy on taxes.FPOe chief Heinz-Christian Strache, 48, railed against asylum-seekers and vowed to stop Austrians from "becoming a minority in our own homeland", at a rally late Friday.

The early parliamentary election was triggered after Kurz took over the OeVP in May and ended the bickering "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats."The Freedom Party as a government partner will not make a good impression in Europe (and) Kurz is aware of that," commented Der Standard newspaper Saturday.The OeVP and FPOe already shared power between 2000 and 2007.But all signs indicate that Austrians, fed up with a record influx of asylum-seekers, want to swap the gridlocked centrist rule for a more hardline government for the first time in a decade.The fresh-faced "whizz-kid" is likely to form a coalition with the eurosceptic Freedom Party (FPOe), forecast to place second or third with at least 25 percent.Vienna will hold the EU's presidency in the second half of 2018, just when Brussels wants to conclude Brexit talks in March 2019.Kurz and Strache also see eye-to-eye on lowering taxes, slashing Austria's red tape and keeping the EU more out of national affairs."  

"The way Kurz goes about things is what has captured people's minds.Meanwhile embattled Chancellor Christian Kern, 51, and his once-mighty Social Democrats (SPOe) could be flushed into opposition after their promising campaign suffered blunders and scandals.A rightward shift in the wealthy European Union member of 8.75 million people would be a fresh headache for Brussels, as it already struggles with Britain's decision to leave and the rise of nationalists in Germany, Hungary, Poland and elsewhere.

A stronger greenback makes dollar-denominated gold more expensive for holders of other currencies.1 per cent at $1,319.10 on Tuesday. It fell over 2 per cent to touch an over 2-month low of $1,026.The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, fell 0.Spot gold was up 0.Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, fell 0.Spot silver was up 0.  

Fibonacci retracement analysis and a falling channel, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao. The metal fell over 1 percent in the previous session.8 pe rcent at $656.80 an ounce by 0430 GMT.Spot gold was up 0.Platinum gained 0.Goldman Sachs further cut its view on the likelihood of a U. But it said the chances of the next rate hike occurring at the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) December meeting have risen to 40 percent from 30 percent.20 an ounce.535."Despite equity market weakness, gold continues to trade heavily," he added.1 per cent at $1033. Federal Reserve was unlikely to raise rates next week.80 an ounce by 0430 GMT.49 tonnes on Tuesday.1 percent to 95.Spot gold may revisit a low of $1,301.73."Most expect Fed president Janet Yellen to give some warm-up for December hiking in next week's meeting," said Jiang Shu, chief China Compression Tooling analyst at Shandong Gold Group.3 percent at $18."The technically significant $1,305 level must hold, or we may see a wave of stop-loss selling, with the market excessively long," MKS PAMP Group trader Jason Cerisola said.

Prices will touch $1,300 or below that shortly."Gold is highly sensitive to rising rates, which lift the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as bullion, while boosting the dollar, in which it is priced.47 percent to 935.6 per cent in the prior session, as the dollar slipped amid expectations that the U. US gold futures were nearly flat at $1,323.Gold held steady on Wednesday after falling 0.S."We are slightly bearish on gold prices before the Fed meeting. It hit a near 8-week low of $648.90 an ounce.S. Palladium rose 0. rate hike next week, dropping it to just 25 per cent from 40 per cent.