* Platinum hits more than one-week high of $908.50/oz
* U.S. weekly initial jobless claims data due at 1230 GMT
* Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/ (Updates prices)
By Eileen Soreng
Oct 1 (Reuters) - Gold rose on Thursday, as an easing dollar and signs of progress in talks for fresh U.S. stimulus measures bolstered the metal's appeal.
Spot gold XAU= rose 0.7% to $1,898.79 per ounce by 0707 GMT, starting October on a positive note after recording its biggest monthly drop since late November 2016 in September.
U.S. gold futures GCv1 were 0.3% at $1,902.00 per ounce.
"There's a bit of relief that the dollar rally has for the most part ended and it seems many investors are more focused on the headwinds ahead of the global economic recovery," said Edward Moya, a senior market analyst at OANDA in New York.
The dollar index .DXY slipped 0.2% against its rivals to hover near a one-week low, making gold less expensive for investors who hold other currencies. USD/
On Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said talks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "made a lot of progress" on the long-awaited COVID-19 relief legislation. and central banks worldwide have rolled out unparalleled stimulus measures to revive pandemic-hit economies, helping gold rise more than 25% this year, thanks to its role as a hedge against inflation and currency debasement.
Market participants are now waiting for the U.S. initial jobless claims data due later in the day and the non-farm payrolls report on Friday for clues about the pace of recovery in the world's largest economy.
If U.S. jobs data comes at least in line with expectations and as long as the wage inflation number is strong, that maybe gold negative, said DailyFx currency strategist Ilya Spivak.
Among other precious metals, silver XAG= rose 2.4% to $23.76 per ounce. Platinum XPT= hit a more than one-week high of $908.50 per ounce and was last up 1.9% at $905.04, while palladium XPD= gained 0.8% to $2,323.96.