As investors prepare to receive key U.S. inflation data and the Federal Reserve's decision to raise rates next week, the price of gold rose on Friday, helped by a weaker dollar.

Spot gold was up 0.2% to $1,793.16 per ounce, at 0241 GMT, down 0.3% since the start of the week. U.S. gold futures rose 0.2% to $1,804.80. In reality, a weaker dollar makes gold more attractive to buyers holding other currencies. Thus, the Dollar Index fell by 0.1%.

Clifford Bennett, chief economist at ACY Securities, said “there is a real chance of upward accretion in gold as we head towards next week's Fed meeting and CPI data.” At the Federal Reserve's policy meeting on December 13 and 14, market participants now expect a 93% chance of a 50 basis point rate hike.

Palladium lost 0.4% to $1,918.50, but was heading for a second consecutive weekly gain, while cash rose slightly by 0.6% to $23.20, platinum rose 0.4% to $1,006.91.