Published January 2, 2015 1:53pm EST | Updated January 8, 2015 3:08pm EST

Gold Up 0.2% In First Trading Day Of 2015, Posts 3rd Straight Weekly Loss

Gold futures ended slightly higher on Friday, with the February contract rising $2.10, or 0.2%, to close at $1,186.20 an ounce. Analysts said gold found support as equities stumbled in the wake of weaker-than-expected economic data. Thin trading made for choppy market action. On a most-active basis, gold futures lost 0.9% over the course of the holiday-shortened week, according to FactSet, marking the precious metal's third straight weekly decline.