PRECIOUS-Gold ticks up as dollar rally cools; set for worst week in six

* Gold down about 4% this week, silver 13% lower
* Dollar heads for best week in almost 6 months
* Platinum on track for worst week since March
* Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus:
https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/

(Updates prices)
By Eileen Soreng
Sept 25 (Reuters) - Gold prices edged higher on Friday as
the dollar retreated and hopes for more U.S. stimulus measures
resurfaced, although the precious metal was on track to post its
steepest weekly contraction since August.
Spot gold XAU= was up 0.3% at $1,873.83 per ounce at 0740
GMT. But prices are down about 4% for the week pressured by a
broadly stronger greenback.
U.S. gold futures GCv1 rose 0.1% to $1,879.20.
The dollar index .DXY was off its two-month peak but was
on track for its best week since early-April, up 1.5%, making
gold more expensive for holders of other currencies. USD/
"With the data front quiet, it appears that investors want
to stay nimble and hedged by leaving their money in dollar,
rather than moving to precious metals or U.S. bonds," said
Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at OANDA.
Investors also grew hopeful after a lawmaker on Thursday
said Democrats in the House of Representatives were working on a
$2.2 trillion novel coronavirus stimulus package that could be
voted on as soon as next week. U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers, including chair Jerome
Powell, made multiple public appearances this week calling on
the U.S. government to provide more fiscal support. Gold prices have climbed more than 20% this year as central
banks worldwide rolled out massive stimulus and slashed interest
rates to near-zero to counter the economic damage from the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Given that the coronavirus situation has not improved and
interest rates are lower, gold is still bullish in the longer
term, said Brian Lan, managing director at dealer GoldSilver
Central in Singapore.
"Support level for gold lies around $1,845 and resistance at
$1,900."
Silver XAG= edged up 0.1% to $23.32 per ounce and platinum
XPT= rose 1% to $856.93. Both metals are on track for their
worst week since mid-March.
Palladium XPD= gained 0.4% to $2,235.55 per ounce.