Investing.com - Gold futures edged higher on Friday, but remained close to the previous day's nine-week low as market players priced in a greater risk of an earlier hike in U.S. interest rates.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold for December delivery tacked on 0.38%, or $4.80, to settle at $1,280.20 a troy ounce by close of trade on Friday.
Prices hit $1,273.40 an ounce on Thursday, the lowest since June 18.
Futures were likely to find support at $1,273.40, the low from August 21 and resistance at $1,299.30, the high from August 20.
On the week, Comex gold prices lost 1.99%, or $26.00, the second straight weekly decline.
Speaking at the Federal Reserve's annual meeting of top central bankers and economists in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Fed Chair Janet Yellen said the U.S. economy is recovering and added the labor market is improving as well.
Her comments came after minutes of the Fed’s July meeting published Wednesday showed that some officials believe the strengthening recovery and ongoing improvement in the labor market supports a move towards tightening monetary policy.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, hit 82.51 on Friday, the highest since September 6, 2013, before ending the week at 82.38.
Meanwhile, tensions over the crisis in Ukraine remained in focus after NATO said it was observing an alarming increase in Russian forces near the border with Ukraine.
Ukraine declared on Friday that Russia had launched a "direct invasion" of its territory after Moscow sent a convoy of aid trucks across the border into eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian rebels are fighting government forces.
The precious metal is often seen as a haven investment in times of geopolitical uncertainty.
Data from the Commodities Futures Trading Commission released Friday showed that hedge funds and money managers decreased their bullish bets in gold futures in the week ending August 19.
Net longs totaled 116,916 contracts, down 12.5% from net longs of 133,708 in the preceding week.
In the week ahead, investors will be looking ahead to key U.S. data for further indications on the strength of the economy and the possible future path of monetary policy.
The U.S. will produce data on second quarter gross domestic product, as well as reports on new home sales, durable goods orders and initial jobless claims.
Also on the Comex, silver for September delivery dipped 0.15%, or 2.9 cents, on Friday to settle at $19.38 a troy ounce by close of trade on Friday.
Prices fell to $19.28 on Thursday, the lowest since June 12. On the week, the September silver futures contract declined 0.71%, or 14.0 cents, the sixth consecutive weekly loss.
Data from the CFTC showed that net silver longs totaled 16,523 contracts as of last week, compared to net longs of 23,506 contracts in the preceding week.
Elsewhere in metals trading, copper for September delivery climbed 0.9%, or 2.8 cents, on Friday to end the week at $3.204 a pound by close of trade. Earlier in the day, prices rose to $3.211, the most since August 10.
Comex copper prices tacked on 0.96%, or 3.1 cents, on the week, amid speculation weakening economic growth in China will prompt policymakers to introduce fresh stimulus measures.
The Asian nation is the world’s largest copper consumer, accounting for almost 40% of world consumption last year.
According to the CFTC, net copper longs totaled 8,657 contracts as of last week, down sharply from net longs of 19,096 contracts in the preceding week.