Gold prices held steady on Friday after Britain managed to eke out a deal for its exit from the European Union, lifting risk appetite, while a sluggish dollar provided support to the metal.

Spot gold was unchanged at $1,491.62 an ounce as of 00:57 GMT. U.S. gold futures shed 0.2% to $1,495.40 per ounce.

Asian shares inched higher following Britain's deal with the European Union, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 0.1%.

The dollar slipped to a near eight-week low in the previous session, keeping gold prices propped up.

European Union leaders unanimously backed a new Brexit deal with Britain on Thursday, leaving Prime Minister Boris Johnson facing a battle to secure the UK parliament's backing for the agreement if he is to take Britain out of Europe on Oct. 31.

Source : Reuters