Pakistan, Oct. 10 -- SINGAPORE - Gold prices held steady below the $4,000 per ounce mark on Friday, poised to log their eighth consecutive weekly gain as global investors weighed geopolitical tensions, inflation pressures, and growing expectations of more US rate cuts. At 0514 GMT, spot gold slipped 0.1% to $3,971.43 per ounce, while US gold futures for December delivery edged up 0.3% to $3,985.80. Despite the slight dip, gold remained up 2.2% for the week. Silver also climbed 0.9% to $49.55, easing from Thursday's record high of $51.22, while platinum fell 1% to $1,602.25 and palladium dropped 2.2% to $1,381.29.

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