gold prices edged up past 1800 per ounce on thursday as the us dollar softened setting the yellow metal up to log its third weekly gain over the past four weeks   gold for february delivery gcg23 gained 1080 or 06 to 1806 per ounce on comex according to factset data   silver for march delivery sih23 climbed 34 cents or 14 to 2378 per ounce   palladium for march delivery pah23 retreated 1590 or 1 1656 per ounce while platinum for january plf23 climbed 13 or 13 to 997 per ounce   copper prices for march hgh23 gained 3 cents or 09 to 379 per pound gold traders were awaiting the release of another batch of us inflation data friday morning according to analysts at td securities “we are looking for core pce prices to have advanced at a consensusmatching 02 mm pace for a second consecutive month in november” the strategists said in a note to clients meanwhile the ice us dollar index dxy  a gauge of the dollar’s strength against a basket of rivals was off 01 at 10435