Gold was steady on Monday after briefly falling below $990 an ounce, as the euro trimmed some losses versus the dollar, but bullion looked vulnerable to a long liquidation after it failed to stay above $1,000 an ounce.

Gold prices rallied today, Thursday, to their highest level since February on strong investment demand amid caution ahead of key U.S. non-farm payrolls data on Friday (London GMT).

Gold climbed on Tuesday after data showed the U.S. manufacturing sector grew more than expected in August, lifting appetite for assets seen as higher risk, such as commodities, and boosting inflation fears.

Gold futures trimmed losses but still ended lower on Monday, as risk-averse investor sentiment and a tumbling Chinese equities market prompted selling in bullion and other commodities.

Gold hit a three-week high above $960 an ounce on Friday as buying linked to the weaker dollar pushed the metal through technical resistance, before paring gains after U.S. consumer sentiment data pressured the euro.

Gold eased on Wednesday, giving up earlier gains, as the dollar recovered losses against the euro after U.S. durable goods data failed to impress, tempering appetite for the metal as an alternative asset.

Gold and silver prices climbed to their highest in seven weeks on Monday, as the dollar’s slide to its lowest since mid-December boosted interest in hard assets.

Gold rose on Thursday as the dollar fell versus a basket of currencies, with rebounding stock markets and U.S. jobless figures showing a decline in continuing claims boosting appetite for assets seen as higher risk.

Gold held just under $950 an ounce today, Wednesday, as the dollar steadied against a basket of currencies with weakness in the euro underpinning prices, but gains were capped by lack of physical demand for the metal.

Gold firmed today, Thursday, as weakness in the dollar prompted interest in the precious metal as a currency hedge, with some physical demand after the previous session’s fall also supported prices.