Gold futures log third weekly gain

Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange closed higher Friday, with violence in Ukraine fueling some safe-haven support for the precious metal.

The most active gold contract for April delivery rose 6.7 U.S. dollars, or 0.51 percent, to settle at 1,323.6 dollars per ounce. For the week, gold prices finished around 0.4 percent higher to score a third weekly gain in a row.

According to market analysts, gold saw a safe-haven demand on the day in response to the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders have signed an agreement to end the political crisis in the country that has left at least 77 people dead in violent clashes, reports say.

Earlier this week, gold rallied to a more than three months high after a series of disappointing U.S. economic indicators including weak manufacturing data sparked speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve would slow the tapering of its monthly bond purchases program.

Silver for March delivery rose 9.8 cents, or 0.45 percent, to close at 21.782 dollars per ounce.