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* Spot gold may fall more into $1,307-$1,312/oz range -technicals
* Investors await U.S. non-farm payroll data due later inthe day
(Updates prices)
By Eileen Soreng
March 9 (Reuters) - Gold prices extended losses into a thirdsession on Friday as the dollar strengthened against the yen onhopes of easing tensions between the United States and NorthKorea and ahead of U.S. non-farm payroll data later in the day.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was preparedto meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the first U.S.-NorthKorea summit, marking a potentially dramatic breakthrough innuclear tensions with Pyongyang.
"We are seeing reactions to the Trump-Kim Jong Un'spotential for a discussion prompting a risk-on trade and that isputting some pressure on safe haven assets," said a Hong Kongbased trader.
Spot gold
Against the yen, the dollar rose 0.4 percent to 106.67 yen
The U.S. dollar had tumbled to 16-month lows against thesafe-haven yen late last week as fears of a trade war rattledmarkets after Trump announced his plan for imposing tariffs onimported steel and aluminium.
"We are moderately bearish on gold prices, and see therising yield environment as a headwind," analysts at SocieteGenerale said in a note.
"That being said, we think U.S. rate hikes are alreadypriced in for 2018, and ETF holdings have been very stable inrecent history," analysts said, adding that they see gold pricesat $1,275 per ounce in six months.
Spot gold may fall more into a range of $1,307-$1,312 perounce, as it has pierced below a support at $1,317, according toReuters technical analyst Wang Tao.
Investors were waiting on the release of the U.S. jobsreport later on Friday that will include data on non-farmpayrolls and average hourly earnings.
"I think today the market might get a little short, feelingthat we will have good numbers and that risk is on," the HongKong based trader said.
In other precious metals, silver
Platinum
(Reporting by Eileen Soreng in BengaluruEditing by Richard Pullin and Subhranshu Sahu) ((eileen.soreng@thomsonreuters.com; Within U.S. +1 651 8485832, Outside U.S. +91 80 6749 6131; Reuters Messaging:eileen.soreng.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))