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• Gold prices rose on Thursday, helped by a weaker dollar and as a relief recovery in stock markets fizzled out, driving investors toward the safe-haven metal.

Spot gold was 0.6 percent higher at $1,274.50 per ounce at 1:44 p.m. EST, after hitting at $1,279.06 in the previous session, its highest since June 19.

U.S. gold futures settled $8.10 higher at $1,281.10 per ounce.

• "The weaker dollar index is supporting the buying interest in gold and the U.S. stock indexes have pulled back significantly, which has also helped," Jim Wyckoff, senior analyst at Kitco Metals.

"Also, the technical posture of the gold market has become significantly bullish on a near-term basis, which is inviting some chart-based buying too."

• A global equity rally fueled by a dramatic surge on Wall Street ran out of steam on Thursday, after a fall in Chinese industrial profits again showed the pressures on the global economy. U.S. stocks fell sharply at open on Thursday.

"The recovery rally in stocks has not lasted long and the bearish sentiment is dominating again, which is supportive for gold," a Germany-based analyst said.

• The dollar index, a gauge of the greenback's value against six major peers, fell 0.5 percent on Thursday, a sign that gold is cheaper for holders of other currencies.

• A partial U.S. government shutdown was widely expected to continue after Congress reconvenes on Jan. 3, with lawmakers split over President Donald Trump's demand for $5billion in taxpayer funding for a Mexican border wall.

• "There has been an extensive surge in the gold exchange traded fund holdings and there is absolutely no shortage of momentum there. Investors are just preparing themselves by buying gold as there are several uncertainties heading into 2019," said Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Think Markets UK.

• Among other metals, silver was up .92 percent at $15.17 per ounce, after hitting its highest level since mid-August at $15.25.

Platinum fell .78 percent to $788.40 per ounce, while palladium rose half a percent to $1,261.50.