Oct 18 (Reuters) - Gold held steady near a record high on Friday, as uncertainty surrounding the U.S. election, simmering Middle East tensions and a looser monetary policy environment boosted its appeal.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Spot gold held its ground at $2,694.99 per ounce, as of 0034 GMT, after hitting a record high of $2,696.59 on Thursday. Prices have risen more than 1% so far in the week.

* U.S. gold futures rose 0.1% to $2,710.20.

* With less than three weeks remaining to cast votes this presidential election, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump are stretching for the support of every last voter and looking beyond their bases.

* Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a mastermind of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the Gaza war, has been killed by Israeli forces. Western leaders said his death offered an opportunity for the war to end, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would go on.

* U.S. economic data released overnight pointed to an economy on solid footing. But traders still see an 88% chance of a Federal Reserve rate cut in November, according to the CME Fedwatch tool.

* The European Central Bank cut rates on Thursday for the third time this year, saying inflation in the euro zone was increasingly under control.

* Reduced interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty enhance the attractiveness of bullion, which is seen as a safe investment that does not generate interest.

* Meanwhile, Swiss gold exports fell in September to the lowest level since June owing to reduced shipments to India, customs data from the world's biggest bullion refining and transit hub showed.

* Spot silver rose 0.2% to $31.76 per ounce and was headed for a weekly gain. Platinum steadied at $991.60 and palladium fell 0.1% to $1,040.75.

DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

0200 China Urban Investment (YTD) YY Sept

0200 China Retail Sales YY Sept

0200 China GDP YY Q3

0200 China Unemp Rate Urban Area Sept

0600 UK Retail Sales MM Sept

0600 UK Retail Sales Ex-Fuel MM Sept

0600 UK Retail Sales YY Sept

1230 US Housing Starts Number Sept

(Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

((Ashitha.Shivaprasad@thomsonreuters.com;))