Gold prices were steady early Friday, as investors awaited U.S. Federal Reserve Chief Jerome Powell’s speech later in the day at the Jackson Hole symposium after some U.S. central bank officials called for paring bond purchases.
Prices for spot gold rose 0.1% to $1,793.68 U.S. per ounce.
U.S. gold futures rose 0.1% to $1,796.70.
The American dollar held firm after bouncing off a one-week low in the previous session.
On Thursday, the Fed’s hawkish policymakers urged the central bank to begin paring bond purchases they feel have become ineffective, if not downright harmful.
China’s net gold imports via Hong Kong fell nearly 29% in July after a sharp rise in June, Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department data showed on Thursday.
Caution also set into the market following Islamic State’s suicide bomb attack on Thursday at Kabul airport which killed scores of civilians and at least 13 U.S. troops.
Silver was flat at $23.54 U.S. per ounce, while platinum rose 0.3% to $982.52 U.S..
Palladium rose 0.2% to $2,396.69 U.S.