Gold eases to near 3-week low after sharp rebound

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Gold slipped on Friday on a weaker euro against the U.S. dollar after a sharp rebound the previous day plucked bullion from its lowest level in almost three weeks.

-- Gold was trading at $731.80 an ounce, down $2.95 from New York's notional close. Gold fell as low as $700.25 on Thursday before bouncing to hit a high of $736.75, its biggest daily percentage gain in more than a week, on gains in equities.

-- The euro slipped to $2.773 after rising in New York as strong performance on Wall Street helped ease extreme risk aversion.

-- Japan's Nikkei average rose 1.7 percent on Friday after U.S. shares rallied the previous day on bargain-hunting.

-- Platinum was trading at $839.00 ounce, up $17.50 from New York's notional close on Thursday.

-- New York gold futures rose $21.1 an ounce to $732.1.