After a positive start, stocks gave up their gains and moved along the flat line till around mid afternoon on Wednesday before drifting lower to end the day's session on a weak note.
Gold futures gained on Thursday as the dollar stayed subdued after data showing a smaller than expected increase in U.S. private sector employment helped raise optimism the Federal Reserve will start cutting rates sometime early next year.
Gold futures settled higher on Thursday as the dollar dropped and bond yields fell amid improved risk sentiment. Gold prices were subdued earlier in the day despite the dollar's weakness and a drop in Treasury yields.
Gold prices climbed higher on Wednesday as the dollar shed ground against its major counterparts amid speculation the Federal Reserve might signal a pause in policy tightening sometime soon.