Gold flat as dollar strength overshadows virus worries

Gold prices were flat on Friday, as a firmer dollar eclipsed support from rising anxiety over increasing cases of coronavirus' Delta variant that could delay economic recovery.

Spot gold was flat at $1,780.43 per ounce by 0056 GMT, while US gold futures was little changed at $1,782.40.

The dollar index held near a more than a nine-month high hit on Thursday, denting gold's appeal to holders of other currencies.

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will speak on "the economic outlook" at next week's Jackson Hole, Wyoming symposium, the central bank said on Thursday, where some analysts expect him to lay out a clearer roadmap on the central bank's taper plans.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell to a 17-month low last week, pointing to another month of robust job growth, though surging Covid-19 infections pose a risk to the labour market recovery.

Growth in factory activity in the US mid-Atlantic region slowed for the fourth consecutive month in August after hitting its highest pace in nearly half a century earlier this spring, a survey showed on Thursday.

Silver rose 0.1 per cent to $23.25 per ounce and was headed for third straight weekly decline.

Platinum gained 0.5 per cent to $977.95, but it is down 4.6 per cent for the week so far.

Palladium was up 0.7 per cent at $2,328.19. The metal was headed for its worst weekly performance since March 2020 falling 12.2 per cent so far.