Prices were expected to stick to a tight range as players awaited an early market close. However, sentiment looking toward 2006 remained upbeat after prices rose 18 percent this year to touch a quarter-century peak.
"Gold is mildly supported by the overnight strength in the overseas markets," said James Quinn, commodities commentator at AG Edwards & Sons.
By 10:12 am, February delivery gold was up 40 cents at $517.90 an ounce at the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division, barely budging between $514.70 and $519.30.
New York metals trading was set to shut early, around noon (1700 GMT), and remain closed Monday for the New Year's Day holiday.
Resistance has been stiff up around the $520 area this week, but overall bullishness continued to support prices.
Many analysts expect COMEX gold to target December's near 25-year high at $544.50 early in 2006.
Spot gold Friday fetched $515.50/516.30 an ounce, hardly moving from Thursday's New York close at $515.70/6.40. Friday's morning fix in London was at $513.
On December 12, spot gold hit a near 25-year high at $540.90. March silver was up 4.3 cents at $8.925 an ounce, in a range from $8.83 to $8.99. Spot silver reached $8.85/88, versus $8.82/84 previously. It fixed at $8.83.
NYMEX January platinum rose 80 cents to $965 an ounce. March palladium was up 20 cents at $257 an ounce. Spot was stable at $253/257.