gold prices edged higher on friday after the mostactive contract settled at its lowest level in about nine weeks a day earlier expectations that a deal on the us debtceiling could be reached in the coming days are helping to support the yellow metal analysts said by causing the dollar to soften   gold futures for june delivery gc00 gcm23 gained 920 or 05 to 195280 per ounce on comex   silver futures for july delivery si00 sin23 gained 39 cents or 17 to 2330 per ounce   palladium for june delivery pam23 gained 3380 or 24 to 1452 per ounce while platinum for july delivery pln23 rose by 950 or 09 to 1035 per ounce   copper for july delivery hgn23 gained 8 cents or 22 to 368 per pound precious metals analysts are questioning whether gold’s pullback from its multiyear highs reached in early may is a sign of further declines to come or just a shortlived pause before the yellow metal trudges higher “yet while gold is undoubtedly trending downward currently it is worth remembering that 1950 an ounce remains a very high level historically for the precious metal and it is still trading well over 100 an ounce higher than where it was at the start of the year” said rupert rowling a market analyst for kinesis money in emailed commentary gold has lagged behind as the us dollar has moved higher a stronger dollar makes gold less affordable for buyers using foreign currencies the ice us dollar index dxy  a gauge of the buck’s value against its main rivals was off 03 at 10391