Gold logs first gain in 3 sessions on weak economic, soft dollar

Gold prices posted its first gain in three sessions, albeit a modest one, following a pullback for the U.S. dollar, disappointing economic data and news of strong demand for the metal in the fourth quarter of last year.

Gold for April delivery GCJ5, +0.56%  rose $1.10, or 0.1%, to settle at $1,220.70 an ounce on Comex. Prices had fallen by nearly $22 in the past two trading sessions.

Current Market Update

 

Here are the latest trading levels for Asia's major stock markets: 

Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, -0.45% ) down 0.3% 

 Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.90% ) up 0.9% 

 Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +1.57% ) up 1.6% (at break) 

 Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +2.41% ) up 2.4% 

 Seoul (Kospi SEU, +0.53% ) up 0.5%

 Mumbai (Sensex 1, +0.46% ) up 0.3% 

 Taipei (Taiex Y9999, +0.35% ) up 0.4%

Asian Market Update

Asian markets mostly rose Friday after European leaders and Russia agreed a plan to end Ukraine's 10-month war, while traders were confident Greece would eventually hammer out a debt overhaul with its creditors.

The upbeat outlook for the crises provided a catalyst for an equities rally in Europe and the United States, a mantle picked up in bourses across Asia.

Hong Kong rose 0.46 per cent, Shanghai added 0.50 per cent and Seoul put on 0.33 per cent, while Sydney rallied 1.09 per cent as energy firms were boosted by a rebound in oil prices.

KLSE Malaysia Opening Market Update

MALAYSIA share prices opened higher on Friday with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index up 1.95 points to 1791.68.

Volume was 30.63 million lots worth RM16.43 million.

Gainers outnumbered losers 117 to 46.

Market Closing Update

Malaysian shares closed lower on Thursday with the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index slipping 9.88 points to 1,789.07.

Some 1.68 billion lots, valued at RM2.51 billion were traded. Losers outnumbered gainers 436 to 326.