By Anmol Choubey (Reuters) -Gold prices held steady on Friday, with investors refraining from taking any big bets ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the annual Jackson Hole symposium that could offer fresh clues on the monetary policy path.

Gold rose nearly 1% on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar eased, while market participants braced for the minutes of the U.S. central bank's last policy meeting and upcoming Jackson Hole symposium for clues on future interest rate moves.