US gold futures jumped to a record high above $1,100 an ounce Friday morning after government data showed US employers slashed more jobs than expected in October and the unemployment rate rose above 10 percent to the highest since April 1983. COMEX December gold up $7 at $1,096.30 an ounce at 9:59 am EST (1459 GMT). Range from $1,086.50 to record $1,101.90.
GOLD: The high eclipsed Wednesday's record at $1,098.50. US employers cut 190,000 jobs in October. Unemployment rose to 10.2 percent. Gold seen decoupling a bit from outside markets. Market embracing flight-to-quality phenomenon, with equities and other commodity markets down on the heels of 10.2 unemployment rate - Adam Klopfenstein, senior market strategist with Lind-Waldock, a division of MF Global.
Gold underpinned by expectations of renewed central bank interest after IMF sale of 200 tonnes of gold to India this week. COMEX estimated volume at 44,207 lots by 9 am Spot gold was at $1,096.05 an ounce at 9:53 am up from $1,088.95 quoted late in the previous session in New York. London's morning gold fix at $1,095.
SILVER: December silver up 15.0 cents at $17.560 an ounce on gold's spike higher. Range from $17.270 to $17.630. COMEX estimated volume at 9,822 lots. Spot silver was at $17.47, versus $17.36 in the previous session in New York. London silver fix at $17.525.
PLATINUM: January platinum down 90 cents at $1,362 an ounce. Spot platinum was at $1,350.50, compared with late previous session quote of $1,352.50 in New York.
PALLADIUM: December palladium up $2.15 at $334 an ounce. Spot palladium was at $330.50, versus the prior session's late quote at $328.