Gold prices rise for third consecutive day against the background statistics on the number of applications for unemployment in the U.S., which turned out better than expected, reporting, corporate America, as well as continuing uncertainty about the debt problems of Greece.

The number of initial claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. for the week ended January 28 fell by 12 000 - to 367 thousand. Published data were much better than analysts' expectations, projected to decline only 375 000.

On a positive financial results were seen for U.S. corporations in 2011. Thus, the net profit of the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck on the basis of 2011 increased by more than seven times and amounted to 6.2 billion dollars against 861 million dollars in 2010.

Net profit of the American Chemical giant Dow Chemical Company on the basis of 2011 grew by 18% - to 2.74 billion dollars.

In addition, investors continue to monitor the situation in Greece, where the government has still not reached an agreement with private creditors to write off part of the national debt.

Cost of the February gold futures on the COMEX today rose to 1761.1 dollars per ounce.