Gold futures score first gain in six sessions
Weak U.S. manufacturing data give gold a boost; dollar weighs
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Gold futures finished modestly higher Thursday to log the first gain in six sessions, as investors parsed through a mountain of economic reports in the U.S. to gauge safe-haven demand for the precious metal.A slowdown in manufacturing activity provided support for gold, but strength in the dollar also lured some investors away from the metal, putting a cap on gold’s gains.

Gold for delivery in April (COMEX:GCJ3) climbed 60 cents to settle at $1,578.60 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, after touching an intraday low of $1,554.30. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-futures...beforebell