Gold futures closed slightly higher on Thursday, ahead of the Christmas holidays, but held their first weekly decline in about a month. Traders of precious metals have been keeping an eye on the path of the U.S. coronavirus fiscal support package, which was passed by Congress Monday but is currently anonymous on President Donald Trump’s desk. February gold set $ 5.10, or 0.3%, higher at $ 1,883.20 an ounce. For the week, gold is down 0.3%, FactSet data show, based on the most active contract. Gold trading ended an hour earlier than usual on Christmas Eve and will be closed Friday according to the holidays. Futures for bullion had posted three consecutive weekly gains to this week, marked by concerns about Trump’s willingness to push through a coronavirus aid package that was seen as a lottery for gold prices and the overall economy as COVID-19 locks and whether the spread of the deadly disease accelerates. Trump has asked Congress to raise direct incentive payments to $ 2,000 from $ 600; however, Republicans in the House on Thursday morning opposed the president and blocked a bill introduced by Democrats that would have conducted further stimulus investigations. It is unclear whether the president will deliver the legislation in its current form.