Gold futures rose Friday after a report showed U.S. employers last month added the fewest number of jobs since September, spurring buying in the metal on worries about an economic slowdown.
Gold for August delivery, the most active contract, added $6.60, or 0.4%, to $1,539.70 U.S. an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
So far this week, gold has gained 0.2%.
The up-and-down week for gold has included reports of progress in the resolution of euro-zone sovereign-debt issues, which dampened the dollar and supported gold buying, but a dip on Thursday on moderately positive data against a tide of mostly bad macroeconomic news.
On Friday, the key U.S. nonfarm-payrolls report showed that job growth slowed to a crawl in May and the unemployment rate ticked higher. The disappointing macroeconomic data called into question the recovery and raised the spectre of a double-dip recession
Gold trimmed its gains after a survey of senior executives showed later on Friday the U.S. service sector accelerated slightly in May.
The Institute for Supply Management on Wednesday said its services index rose to 54.6% last month from 52.8% in April.
Readings over 50% indicate more firms are expanding than contracting. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected the services index to register 54%.
Meanwhile, silver for July delivery shed 53 cents, or 1.4%, to $35.68 U.S. an ounce.
Silver lost 4% on Thursday and on the week was looking at losses around 6%.
