Gold prices rose on Monday, to head for the first daily gain in 3 days, within recovery attempts from a 2-week low, while the US dollar fell against other major currencies.

Gold prices rose 0.75% to $1,781.63 an ounce, after opening at $1,768.43, and hit a low of $1,766.11.

Gold closed lower by 0.2% on Friday, in its second straight daily loss, and hit a 2-week low at $1,756.04 an ounce.

The yellow metal gained 3.6% last month, and posted the first monthly gain in 2021, thanks to a drop in US Treasury bonds.

The dollar index fell 0.2%, and paused its 2-day recovery from a 2-month low.

This comes as the market's risk appetite improved following a drop in the 10-year US treasury yields this week.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Sunday tamped down concerns that President Joe Biden's plans for infrastructure, jobs and families will cause inflation, saying the spending will be phased in over a decade

At 18:20 GMT, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will speak about community development at an online conference, audience questions are expected.

Gold stocks at the SPDR ETF remained unchanged on Friday, with a total at the lowest level since April 14, 2020 at 1,019.66 metric tonnes.

USD/JPY tilted higher in Asian trade away from March 4 lows amid a lack of data from Japan due to a bank holiday and ahead of US data today.

As of 06:52 GMT, USD/JPY rose 0.36% top 109.63, with an April 13 high at 108.71, and a session low at 109.19. 

From the US, the Markit manufacturing index is expected up to 60.7 from 60.6, while construction spending is expected up 1.7% in March. 

US ISM manufacturing PMI is expected up to 65.0 from 64.7 in March, while manufacturing prices are estimated up to 86.0 from 85.6. 

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is due to speak about community development at an online conference hosted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. 

Wall Street closed lower on Friday, weighed down by weak Chinese data, but the main US stock indices posted monthly gains in April.

Data showed that the Chinese manufacturing PMI fell to 51.1 points last month, lower than forecasts of a rise to 55.9 points, from 51.9 in the previous reading.

The US personal income index rose 21.1% in March, while personal spending rose 4.2%.

This week, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and Tesla have all reported strong earnings for the first quarter, while Twitter reported disappointing business results.

To the oil market, WTI crude June futures fell 2.2% or $1.43, and closed at $ 63.58 a barrel, after hitting a day high of $64.9 and a low of $63.08, but posted weekly gains of 2.3% and monthly gains of 7%.

Brent June futures fell 2.6% or $1.80, and closed at $ 66.76 a barrel, after hitting a high of $68.4 and a low of $67.06, with weekly gains of 1% and monthly gains of 7.1%.

As for stocks, Dow Jones fell 0.5% or 185 points, and closed at 33874, after it hit a day high of 33988, and a low of 33784, with a weekly loss of 0.5%, and a monthly gains of 2.7%.

Nasdaq fell 0.8% or 120 points to 13962, with a high of 14084 and a low of 13941, and registered a 0.4% weekly loss, and 5.4% monthly gains.

S&P 500 fell 0.7% or 30 points to 4181, and posted a 0.1% weekly gain, and a monthly gain of 5.2%, after hitting a high of 4198 and a low of 4174.

Silver prices fell on Friday, as the US dollar rallied against most of its peers, and silver posted a weekly loss but with a monthly gain.

The US personal income index rose 21.1% in March, while personal spending rose 4.2%.

This week, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and Tesla have all reported strong earnings for the first quarter, while Twitter reported disappointing business results.

Concerns over the coronavirus crisis are still lingering, especially over the situation in India, which suffers rising infections and deaths.

The dollar index rose against a basket of major currencies by 0.7% to 91.2 points as of 20:47 GMT, after hitting a high of 91.3 points and a low of 90.5 points.

Silver July futures fell 0.8% or 21 cents, and closed at $25.87 an ounce, and posted weekly losses of 0.8%, with a monthly gain of 5.5%.