Gold eases, continues to eye $1,000

Gold futures were a touch lower but remained near $1,000 after the previous session's rally, which took the metal to a six-month high as safe-haven buying gathered momentum on renewed economic uncertainties.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Gold was at $991.95 per ounce at 2347 GMT, up 0.2 percent from the notional close in New York of $990.10.

* U.S. gold futures for December delivery were at $994.0 per ounce, down 0.4 percent.

* The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, the SPDR Gold Trust, said holdings stood at 1,078.01 tonnes as of Sept 3, up 14.65 tonnes or 1.4 percent from the previous business day.

* The world's largest silver-backed exchange-traded fund, the iShares Silver Trust, said its bullion holdings rose 61.18 tonnes, or 0.7 percent, on September 3 to 8,726.20 tonnes, up after two straight days of declines.

MARKET NEWS

* The yen slipped from a seven-week high against the dollar and declined versus other major currencies on Thursday as an upbeat tone in global stock markets reduced the Japanese currency's safe-haven allure.

* U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, snapping a four-day losing streak, after stronger-than-expected retail sales data eased concerns about the economy before Friday's important jobs data.

DATA EVENTS

* The following data is expected on Friday:

- French budget year-to-date through July (0645 GMT)

- Swiss August consumer price inflation (0715 GMT)

- Italian June trade balance (0800 GMT)

- U.S. employment report for August (1230 GMT)

- U.S. ECRI future inflation gauge for August (1340 GMT)

- U.S. ECRI weekly (1430 GMT)

- U.S. Treasury releases monthly strips (1900 GMT)

PRICES

Precious metals prices at 2352 GMT

Metal Last Change Pct chg Day ago pct MA 30