July 07, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 21, 1428

LONDON, July 6: Gold was steady on Friday ahead of the release of key data about job creation in the United States, which could move the dollar and in turn shift gold prices. Spot gold stood at $647.45/$647.95 an ounce as of 0935 GMT, little changed from $649.30/$650.10 late in New York on Thursday, when it hit its lowest in a week at $645.70 on a rising dollar and better-than-expected US services sector data.

Gold often trades in an inverse correlation to the dollar as some investors use the metal as a dollar hedge.

Overall, the gold market lacked upward momentum, analysts said. Spot platinum traded at $1,282.50/$1,286 an ounce, down from $1,288/$1,292 in late New York.

Silver was down 6 cents at $12.42/12.47 and palladium inched down to $362/$366 an ounce, compared with $364/368.—Reuters