NEW YORK: Gold reversed course and edged higher on Thursday as the dollar eased, though the metal traded below an eight-year peak hit in the last session as prospects for economic recovery improved after data showed the US economy created record jobs in June.

Spot gold rose 0.4% to $1,777.04 per ounce by 1:42 p.m. EDT (1742 GMT), holding close to the near eight-year high of $1,788.96 hit on Wednesday. US gold futures settled up 0.6% at $1,790 per ounce.

In other metals, palladium was flat at $1,905.10 per ounce, platinum fell 0.7% to $810.10 per ounce, while silver edged up 0.2% to $17.97.