Gold is currently at $1,141.10 (+0.11%). The precious metal managed to climb slightly after it declined at the beginning of the session. Early declines took place despite sharp drops in U.S. stocks. "This suggests that in the short term, stock market meltdown or no meltdown, gold prices are unwilling to move above $1,145 (and) it will take a way stronger catalyst, say a very weak non-farm payrolls number this Friday, to substantially bring prices (higher),'' said Howie Lee, analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.

Investors are waiting for U.S. payrolls data to assess probability of a rate hike by the Federal Reserve in September. ADP Employment Report is due today 12:15 GMT. It might provide some clues on payrolls.