2016.08.3008:12:00UTC+00Gold Stuck Near $1320 As Jobs Report Looms

Gold futures were slightly lower Tuesday morning as markets looked ahead to Friday's all-important August U.S. jobs report.

Jobs growth has been surprisingly robust over the summer, and a third straight big number may compel the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates despite sluggish inflation.

Gold for Dec. was down 3 dollars at $1323 an ounce.

On the economic front, S&P/Case-Shiller is scheduled to release their 20-city composite house price index for June at 9 am ET.

Economists expect the index to have risen a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent month-over-month, reversing the 0.1 percent drop in May.