FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold was little changed at 2,048.81 per ounce by 0039 GMT, but it was up about 3% for the week. U.S. gold futures were up 0.1% at $2,057.10.
* The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday signalled a likely pause in interest rate hikes.
* PacWest Bancorp is exploring strategic options, including a potential sale or capital raise, after a liquidity boost it announced in March failed to inspire confidence in its ailing share price.
* Economic uncertainty and lower rates boost demand for the zero-yield asset.
* The dollar index was set for a weekly drop, making gold more attractive for overseas buyers.
* Investors will keep a tab on the U.S. Labor Department's non-farm payrolls (NFP) data due at 1230 GMT.
* The European Central Bank slowed the pace of its rate increases on Thursday but signalled more tightening to come.
* Lofty prices have tarnished bullion demand in top Asian retail hubs.
* Spot silver fell 0.3% at $26.00 per ounce, platinum gained 0.3% to $1,042.15 and palladium edged 0.6% higher to $1,456.73.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
0145 China Caixin Services PMI April
0600 Germany Industrial Orders MM March
0600 Germany Manufacturing O/P Cur Price SA March
0600 Germany Consumer Goods SA March
0830 UK All-Sector PMI April
1230 US Non-Farm Payrolls April
1230 US Unemployment Rate April
(Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)