By Jan Harvey LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Gold prices steadied just shy of $1,045 per ounce on Friday, consolidating the previous session's 1.7 percent gain after data showed the U.S. crawling out of recession, with investors eyeing the dollar for fresh direction. Gold moves in a close inverse relationship with the dollar, as the metal becomes cheaper for holders of other currencies when the U.S. unit weakens. Spot gold was bid at $1,044.25 an ounce at 1045 GMT, against $1,044.95 late in New York on Thursday. U.S. gold futures for December delivery on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell $1.80 to $1,045.30 an ounce. "At the moment, the metal and the dollar are moving in line with equities, so it is worth keeping an eye on stocks later today when U.S. data is due," said Alexander Zumpfe, precious metals trader at Heraeus. Several U.S. data releases are expected on Friday, including September personal income and consumption at 1230 GMT, Chicago manufacturing figures at 1345 and the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys October final consumer sentiment index at 1355. The dollar was flat against a basket of six major currencies, including the euro, on Friday <.DXY>. The euro-dollar rate has moved in recent sessions in line with risk appetite, with the U.S. currency tending to benefit from falling share prices. [FRX/] [.EU] RESILIENCE Stronger-than-expected third-quarter gross domestic product data boosted stocks and commodities on Thursday, helping lift gold. Traders say the metal's resilience after its slip below $1,030 an ounce has boosted confidence. "The chart looks favorable after yesterday's move to within $1.10 an ounce of key support from the Sept. 17 high at $1,025.80," said MF Global in a note. The light physical demand for gold that emerged in major consumer India after the metal retreated from record highs earlier this week is abating, dealers said, as prices resumed their rise. [ID:nBOM448131] Traders in India said more buying would be seen if the metal retreated to $1,020 an ounce, or 15,800 rupees per ten grams. Elsewhere holdings of the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, New York's SPDR Gold Trust , were unchanged on Thursday after three sessions of declines. [GOL/SPDR] On the supply side, Harmony Gold Mining , the world's fifth largest gold producer, said that due to the strength of the rand, it may have to consider restructuring some of its lowest-grade, highest-cost operations. [ID:nLU179609] Among other precious metals, spot silver was bid at $16.58, against $16.63 an ounce late on Thursday. The world's largest silver ETF, the iShares Silver Trust in New York, said it saw an inflow of 131.43 tonnes on Thursday. [ID:nT312529] As well as strong investment buying, traders say they are also seeing a pick-up in industrial demand for silver. The metal is primarily industrial in application, and is widely used in electronics manufacturing. Platinum was at $1,325 an ounce against $1,337.50, while palladium was at $325 against $325.50.

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