Aug 14 (Reuters) - Gold prices rose for a third straight session on Friday, supported by a weaker U.S. dollar, with investors awaiting the release of Chinese economic data due later in the day.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold XAU= was up 0.4% at $1,960.29 per ounce by 0044 GMT. However, bullion has fallen nearly 4% so far this week and was on track for its first weekly decline since early June.
* U.S. gold futures GCv1 eased 0.2% to $1,967.50 per ounce.
* The dollar index .DXY fell for a third consecutive session against its rivals, making gold cheaper for holders of other currencies. USD/
* China is slated to publish activity data for July including retail sales, industrial production and urban investment at 0200 GMT.
* Data out of the United States on Thursday showed jobless claims dropped below one million last week for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, although at least 28 million people are still receiving unemployment checks, indicating a weak labour market. More than 20.73 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 749,871 have died, according to a Reuters tally. Washington continues to remain in a stalemate over additional U.S. stimulus plan. President Donald Trump said he was blocking Democrats' effort to include funds for the U.S. Postal Service and election infrastructure in a new coronavirus relief bill. Asian shares were set for a largely flat start on Friday. MKTS/GLOB
* SPDR Gold Trust GLD , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.1% to 1,252.09 tonnes on Thursday. GOL/ETF
* Silver XAG= edged 0.1% lower to $27.53 per ounce, platinum XPT= was steady at $956.96 and palladium XPD= eased 0.1% to $2,163.97.