Silver rises over 1% to month high as dollar slips

Silver futures rose over 1% in American trade on track for the first weekly profit in three, as the dollar index gave up ground for the day following earlier US payrolls data. 

As of 08:41 GMT, silver futures due in March rose 1.42% to $14.71 an ounce, marking November 5 highs, while the dollar index shed 0.19% to 96.51, plumbing November 23 lows. 

US Payrolls 

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.