Gold gains as gloomy US economic outlook dents dollar

Gold prices rose on Friday after bleak U.S. jobless claims data reinforced fears of a slower recovery from the coronavirus-induced economic crisis, denting the dollar and U.S. Treasury yields.

Spot gold was up 0.2% at $1,947.04 per ounce by 0655 GMT. Gold is up 0.2% so far this week, having shed 4.5% in the week to Aug. 14, its worst in five months. US gold futures rose 0.4% to $1,954.40.

"A deterioration in US labour market data, falling bond yields and continued geopolitical tensions continue to support gold," said National Australia Bank economist John Sharma.

"We see gold trading between $1,920 and $1,980 in the near term," he said, adding that factors such as rising risk sentiment and progress on the coronavirus vaccine front could dent demand.

 A technology stocks-fuelled rally on Wall Street drove Asian markets higher on Friday, limiting gold's advance. 

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Data on Thursday showed the number of Americans filing a new claim for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly back above the 1 million mark last week, a setback for a struggling U.S. job market crippled by the coronavirus pandemic.

This sent the dollar index and benchmark 10-year Treasury yields lower, making gold an attractive investment for holders of other currencies.

 Adding to doubts over a swift US economic rebound, Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday warned that a recovery faced a highly uncertain path, helping gold recover from a more than 3% slump earlier this week.

"Despite the rebound in prices, precious metals do have short-term downside risks that would continue to affect prices," Phillip Futures analysts said in a note.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration declined to acknowledge any plans to meet with China over the Phase 1 trade deal.

Elsewhere, silver was steady at $27.22 per ounce and was poised for a weekly rise of about 3% Platinum climbed 0.4% to $921.16, while palladium fell 0.4% to $2,171.99.

Reuters