Gold futures settle higher for a third straight session

Gold futures on Thursday marked their third straight session gain, finding support on renewed talk surrounding another U.S. coronavirus relief deal. "The key to Congress reaching a deal on a stimulus package could come from [Friday's] nonfarm payroll report," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda. "The last nonfarm payroll report of the year could show the labor market is in worse shape and that long-term unemployment is out of control." February gold rose $10.90, or 0.6%, to settle at $1,841.10 an ounce.

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