<p>Gold prices eased on Friday as investors keenly look forward to the US non-farm payrolls report due later in the day to assess the likely path of the Federal Reserve's rate-tightening cycle.</p>.<p>Spot gold was down 0.1 per cent at $1,828.90 per ounce, as of 0334 GMT. US gold futures also fell 0.1 per cent to $1,832.90.</p>.<p>Bullion is likely to decline this week and is down about 1.4 per cent for the period.</p>.<p>"The recent hawkish comments from the US Fed Chair, a recovery in the greenback and easing fears of a recession in many economies caused a withdrawal of investment from gold-like safe-havens," said Hareesh V, head of commodity research at Geojit Financial Services.</p>.<p>Earlier this week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned of higher and potentially faster interest rate hikes to contain high inflation.</p>.<p>Higher interest rates to control rising prices discourage investment in non-yielding gold.</p>.<p>Gold had jumped more than 1 per cent on Thursday after data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week increased by the most in five months, spurring hopes that a softening labor market could pave the way for less-aggressive rate hikes from the Fed.</p>.<p>Investors' attention is now on the US Labor Department's non-farm payrolls (NFP) data due at 1330 GMT. The report is expected to show non-farm payrolls increased by 2,05,000 in February, according to economists polled by Reuters.</p>.<p>Gold will likely "trade choppy" as investors await the US NFP and unemployment data to get "fresh cues" on Fed's next moves, Geojit's Hareesh said.</p>.<p>The dollar index was on track for a weekly gain, making bullion more expensive for buyers holding other currencies.</p>.<p>Spot silver lost 0.6 per cent to $19.95 per ounce, platinum shed 1 per cent to $935.05 and palladium fell 0.6 per cent to $1,380.89.</p>.<p>All three metals were set for a weekly decline, with silver bound for its worst week since mid-October last year.</p>
<p>Gold prices eased on Friday as investors keenly look forward to the US non-farm payrolls report due later in the day to assess the likely path of the Federal Reserve's rate-tightening cycle.</p>.<p>Spot gold was down 0.1 per cent at $1,828.90 per ounce, as of 0334 GMT. US gold futures also fell 0.1 per cent to $1,832.90.</p>.<p>Bullion is likely to decline this week and is down about 1.4 per cent for the period.</p>.<p>"The recent hawkish comments from the US Fed Chair, a recovery in the greenback and easing fears of a recession in many economies caused a withdrawal of investment from gold-like safe-havens," said Hareesh V, head of commodity research at Geojit Financial Services.</p>.<p>Earlier this week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned of higher and potentially faster interest rate hikes to contain high inflation.</p>.<p>Higher interest rates to control rising prices discourage investment in non-yielding gold.</p>.<p>Gold had jumped more than 1 per cent on Thursday after data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week increased by the most in five months, spurring hopes that a softening labor market could pave the way for less-aggressive rate hikes from the Fed.</p>.<p>Investors' attention is now on the US Labor Department's non-farm payrolls (NFP) data due at 1330 GMT. The report is expected to show non-farm payrolls increased by 2,05,000 in February, according to economists polled by Reuters.</p>.<p>Gold will likely "trade choppy" as investors await the US NFP and unemployment data to get "fresh cues" on Fed's next moves, Geojit's Hareesh said.</p>.<p>The dollar index was on track for a weekly gain, making bullion more expensive for buyers holding other currencies.</p>.<p>Spot silver lost 0.6 per cent to $19.95 per ounce, platinum shed 1 per cent to $935.05 and palladium fell 0.6 per cent to $1,380.89.</p>.<p>All three metals were set for a weekly decline, with silver bound for its worst week since mid-October last year.</p>