It had dipped earlier this week below US$1,700 an ounce but was around $1,718/oz at the time of writing.

The pullback in yields had allowed risk takers to wade back into growth stocks, which had suffered recently amid concerns about valuations, Bloomberg reported.

Precious metals equities rose, with Fresnillo gaining 3.72% in the UK and Barrick Gold rising 2.27% in Toronto.

At the smaller end of town, British Columbia-focused precious metals explorer Goliath Resources (TSXV: GOT) gained 24.1% as it closed strategic investments by Eric Sprott and Crescat Capital, giving them 8.3% and 9.9% of the company respectively.

And new explorer Mexico-focused Zacatecas Silver (TSXV: ZAC), which listed last week, was up 31.6% on no news.

Diversified Anglo American shed 4.4% in London and BHP was down about 1% in midday Australian trade.

Finally, markets had closed higher but futures were mixed.