NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Gold futures finished 1.7% higher on Thursday, receiving a lift as Europe's plan to help Greece handle its debt crisis didn't apparently involve any sale of gold.
Gold for April delivery finished up $18.40, or 1.7%, at $1,094.70 an ounce at the New York Mercantile Exchange.
"The European Central Bank has annual gold sales pacts with member banks," said George Gero, metals analyst at RBC, in emailed comments.
