Gold futures settled lower on Friday, pressured by strength in Treasury yields and U.S. benchmark stock indexes, but prices still saw a modest gain for the week, the strongest advance in six weeks. Gold gave back most of its gain for the week on Friday, “with investors choosing the racier equity markets over the haven asset,” said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at ThinkMarkets. The metal “remains stuck inside its existing ranges as investors wonder whether bond yields and the dollar will resume higher,” with the Federal Reserve seen tapering its bond purchases program in mid-November or mid-December,” he said. “Other investors will be happy to buy the dips as the metal is considered to be a good hedge against inflation.” December gold declined by $29.60, or nearly 1.7%, to settle at $1,768.30 an ounce. Prices based on the most-active contract rose 0.6% for the week, the biggest weekly rise since the week ended Sept. 3, FactSet data show.
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