"It is not a bank's job to sit home and get a big spread on treasury bills and make money in the money market, " State Bank Governor Ishrat Husain told reporters in Karachi.

BBC: Pakistan banks' strategy under fire

U.S. economic data due for release Wednesday includes the weekly MBA mortgage applications survey, the Empire State manufacturing survey, Treasury international capital flows, industrial production and capacity utilization, the NAHB housing market index, the weekly DOE energy stocks report, and the FOMC meeting minutes.

FORBES: Comex Gold Firmer On Bargain Hunting, Bullish Outside Markets

The U.S. data includes the weekly MBA mortgage applications survey, the consumer price index, the Empire State manufacturing survey, real earnings, Treasury international capital data, industrial production and capacity utilization, the NAHB housing market index and the weekly DOE energy stocks report.

FORBES: Comex Gold, Silver Lower as "Outside Markets" Bearish