CHICAGO, July 20 (Xinhua)-- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange moved higher on Thursday as U.S. dollar index sank to new low.
The most active gold contract for August delivery rose 3.50 U.S. dollars, or 0.28 percent, to settle at 1,245.50 dollars per ounce.
The U.S. dollar Index declined 0.56 percent to reach 94.27 as of 1710 GMT, reaching to the lowest level since last August.
Analysts said the pressure on the U.S. dollar was mainly from the Euro, which got lifted by the latest comments by European Central Bank's President Mario Draghi.
At a press conference in Frankfurt on Thursday, Draghi announced that the ECB would leave interest-rate policy and other stimulative measures untouched.
But the euro jumped one percent against the U.S. dollar after Draghi indicated that he would leave the door open to discussing changes to its stimulus program later in the year while pledging to continue the ECB's asset-purchasing plan.
Gold futures got additional support as the Dow Jones Industrial Average went down 17.37 points, or 0.08 percent, to 21,623.38 as of 1721 GMT. When equities post losses, the gold futures usually rise, as investors are looking for a safe haven.
As for other precious metals, silver for September delivery rose 4.8 cents, or 0.29 percent, to close at 16.345 dollars per ounce. Platinum for October gained 9 dollars, or 0.97 percent, to settle at 933.20 dollars per ounce.
