* Gold rises as China cuts rates for sixth time since Nov * Expectations for Dec Fed rate rise weigh on market * Gold on course for third straight weekly gain * Coming up: U.S. preliminary manufacturing PMI at 1345 GMT (Releads, adds comment, updates prices) By Mariana Ionova LONDON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Gold rallied on Friday after China eased monetary policy for the sixth time in a year to shore up economic growth but renewed expectations of a U.S. rate rise this year kept a lid on the market. Spot gold rose 1.1 percent to $1,178.01 an ounce by 1225 GMT, regaining some of the losses of the previous session when it fell as low as $1,162.50, its weakest since Oct. 13. "It's positive for global growth, for inflation and, thereby, for the gold price," said Jens Pedersen, metals analyst at Danske Bank. The Chinese rate cut put gold on course for a third straight week of gains. But China's move also raised doubts about when the United States will tighten its own monetary policy. Gold has fallen to 5-1/2-year lows in recent months on expectations the U.S. central bank will raise rates this year, potentially lifting the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. Concerns over the health of the global economy have recently pushed back expectations into 2016, helping lift gold off its lows. But further stimulus in China, coupled with upbeat U.S. data, could increase the likelihood of a December rate rise. "The China cut removes some of the pressure on major central banks to deliver further easing or postpone rate hikes," Pedersen said. "Focus is on the Fed next week. If they keep their more hawkish tone ... we could see the move go in reverse." Investors were also watching the dollar on Friday ahead of U.S. manufacturing PMI numbers for October. The data is expected to show a slight dip from the previous month. "That's the first manufacturing PMI for any major economy that we're going to see for October," said Tom Kendall, precious metals strategist at ICBC Standard Bank. "So it certainly has the potential to affect the dollar and the gold market if the number misses expectations." Technicals provided some support, as gold climbed above the 200-day moving average of $1,174 again. The metal recently broke through that resistance for the first time since May, holding near it for six sessions before slipping away on Thursday. Silver was up 1.5 percent at $16.04 an ounce, platinum rose 0.8 percent to $1,013.25 an ounce and palladium gained 2 percent to $696.50 per ounce. (Editing by Dale Hudson and David Clarke)

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