After investors got their fill of stocks, they turned back to gold on Friday, pushing prices up for the second consecutive day in an otherwise sluggish week.
Gold for February delivery rose $4.10, or 0.3%, to $1,244.30 U.S. an ounce. March silver rose nine cents, or 0.5%, to $20.15 U.S. an ounce.
Gold held on to gains as stock index futures trimmed modest gains on the heels of data that showed construction on new U.S. homes fell 9.8% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 999,000, pulling back after a November surge.
Elsewhere in metals trading Friday, platinum for April delivery improved $18.30, or 1.3%, to $1,449.80 U.S. an ounce, while March palladium rose $3.85 to $747.75 U.S. an ounce.
High-grade copper for March delivery rose nearly two cents to $3.36 U.S. a pound.
