Spot gold trades near $4,450/oz after ISM Manufacturing PMI falls to 47.9

(Kitco News) – Gold is trading near session highs after the latest data showed the U.S. manufacturing sector weakening last month.The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) announced on Monday that its Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index fell to 47.9 in December after posting a 48.2 reading in November. The headline number was lower than expected, as consensus forecasts looked for a reading of 48.3.