U.S. gold futures rise more than 1 percent

U.S. gold futures rose more than 1 percent to $1,775.9 an ounce late Thursday, after two days of sharp declines, on talk that Germany might enact a short-selling ban prompting investors to buy bullion as a safe haven.

Spot gold was also up about 1.23 percent at $1772.04 an ounce by 5:04 p.m. EDT.

(Reporting by Antonita Madonna Devotta)