CHICAGO, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange went sharply up and hit a 3-week high on Wednesday as dollar softened. Silver and platinum both rose.

    The most active gold contract for February delivery gained 17.80 U.S. dollars, or 1.6 percent, to finish at 1,136.50 dollars an ounce. Earlier in the session, the yellow metal touched as high as 1,138.40, the strongest level since Dec. 17.

    Dollar weakened after the improved economic data released on Wednesday morning steadied investors to seek higher-risk assets.

    Payroll services firm ADP said that private-sector employers in December cut the fewest jobs since March 2008, while a separate report from another outplacement firm showed the smallest decline in jobs since December 2008.

    By the end of gold floor trading time, the dollar's rate against euro dropped to 1.4387, 0.14 percent down from late Tuesday, fueling the precious metal's hedge demand.

    March silver was up 37.5 cents to 18.175 dollars per ounce. April platinum rose 20.60 dollars to 1,558.40 dollars an ounce.