SINGAPORE, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Spot gold held steady
above $1,730 an ounce on Tuesday, as investors watch euro zone
finance ministers inch towards a deal to grant Greece a second
bailout to avoid a chaotic default.	
    	
    FUNDAMENTALS	
    * Spot gold was little changed at $1,732.74 an ounce
by 2358 GMT.	
    * U.S. gold gained half a percent to $1,734.60.	
    * Investors were still waiting for the outcome of the
Eurogroup finance ministers meeting, during which Greece hopes
to seal a second bailout to resolve Athens' immediate repayment
needs. 	
    * The European Central Bank will lend nearly half a trillion
euros to banks at rock-bottom rates next week through its
three-year refinancing operation, despite signs institutions
already have adequate liquidity, Reuters polls showed on Monday.
 	
    * Germany's economy will shrug off a drop in economic
production late last year and get back to growth swiftly in
2012, buoyed by strong consumer demand, the country's central
bank said on Monday. 	
    * The Shanghai Gold Exchange will cut trading fees for
several of its precious metals contracts to reduce transaction
costs, it said on Monday, a move seen aimed at keeping its fees
competitive after its rival bourse cut margins last week.
  	
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    MARKET NEWS	
    * The euro edged lower on Tuesday, off a one-week high hit
in the previous session, as euro zone finance ministers inched
towards granting an urgently needed bailout to Greece that would
help Athens avoid a messy default. 	
    * Global shares gained on Monday as China's move to beef up
banking activity supported optimism for global growth and as
Greece moved near to securing a rescue package. 	
    	

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