Gold prices firm

Reuters

Singapore

Gold firmed after three days of losses on Thursday on weaker global equities, but held below a 15-month peak as the dollar rebounded against the yen after a recent slump.

Asian shares slipped for a seventh session on Thursday after a mixed batch of U.S. economic data.

Global equity markets fell for a second straight day on Wednesday.

The greenback firmed broadly on optimism the U.S. economy would bounce back after nearly stalling in the first quarter. It also recovered against the yen after falling to an 18-month low earlier this week.

The spot gold steadied at $1,280.41 an ounce by 0619 GMT, after losing 1.1 percent in the past three sessions.

United States. gold futures rose 0.6 percent to $1,282.40. Global equity markets fell for a second straight day on Wednesday.