Bengaluru

Gold was little changed early on Friday after snapping three days of gains in the previous session, and was set for its first weekly rise in three weeks as the dollar and equities steadied.

Spot gold eased 0.1 percent to $1,215.67 per ounce at 0107 GMT but was up 0.3 percent for the week so far. U.S. gold futures for August delivery fell 0.2 percent to $1,214.80 per ounce. It would be "quite challenging" for the United States to reach the 3 percent growth target set by President Donald Trump, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen told a Senate panel on Thursday. Global stocks scaled record highs on Friday, with Asian equities rising for a fifth straight session, as signs the Fed will pursue a gradual rate tightening path and hopes of a strong earnings season lifted appetite for risk assets.  The dollar was steady against a basket of major currencies on Thursday, as investors turned their attention to Friday´s economic data, a day after Yellen signaled the Fed´s rate hikes could be gradual.