Gold retained losses from the previous two sessions on Friday as equities and the dollar firmed, while traders awaited US nonfarm payrolls data to gauge the strength of the economy and its impact on the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy. Spot gold was little changed at $1,185.11 an ounce by 0644 GMT, after losing 0.6 percent in the previous session. The metal is on track for a small 0.5 percent gain this week.
The nonfarm payrolls report is closely watched as it provides a good reading of the health of the economy. That could in turn provide clues as to when the US central bank would begin to hike rates from record lows. "A nonfarm number below 200,000 may lift gold back up to $1,200, and along with it, probably the death knell for a June hike," said Howie Lee, an analyst at Phillip Futures.