Gold hits five-month high as dollar inches down

Gold futures rose in American trade to July 11 highs as the dollar index fell off November 13 highs for the sixth session out of eight, following a stream of US labor data today. 

As of 03:40 GMT, gold futures due in February rose 0.56% to $1,250.60 an ounce, marking five-month highs, while the dollar index shed 0.09% to 96.72 off three-week highs. 

Earlier US data showed the unemployment rate steadied at 3.7% in November as expected, the lowest since 1969. 

US average earnings rose 0.2% in November, missing estimates of 0.3% and matching the pace of October. 

The US economy added 155 thousand new jobs in November, missing estimates of 198K, and compared to October's 237K increase, revised from 250K. 

Wholesale inventories rose 0.8% in October, above 0.4% in September and past estimates of a 0.7% increase. 

Finally, the University of Michigan released its consumer sentiment survey, which came at 97.5, same as November and beating estimates of 97.5.