Gold set for weekly dip with resilient US economy in focus

Gold firmed on Friday as the dollar retreated from highs but the bullion was still en route to a weekly fall as traders looked beyond a widely expected pause by the Federal Reserve this month to focus on persistently resilient U.S. data. Spot gold was up 0.3% to $1,924.98 per ounce by 0345 GMT, but set for a 0.7% weekly fall. The dollar eased 0.2% on the day but was still headed for its longest weekly winning streak in nine years, bolstered by a slew of resilient U.S. economic data that has also put to question the end of the Fed's rate-hike cycle.