Gold prices climb 1 pct after US payrolls data

U.S. stock futures extended gains, European equities climbed and oil prices rallied more than $1 a barrel after the numbers. Gains in the euro versus the dollar also supported gold.

Spot gold was up 0.9 percent at $1,677.70 an ounce at 1438 GMT, having earlier touched a high of $1,681.70. U.S. gold futures for February delivery were up $17.20 an ounce at $1,679.20.

Gold's link to assets seen as higher risk such as stocks and industrial commodities has fluctuated over the past year.

Earlier this week, weaker-than-expected U.S. growth data boosted prices as it suggested hopes the economy was gaining traction, reducing the prospect of more monetary easing, were premature.

But on Friday gold benefited from the well received jobs data as the rise in other assets pulled it higher.

"The job creation in the United States continues despite a smaller-than-expected rise this month," Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen said. "Risk is very much on, with the dollar weaker and both bonds and stocks rising on the news."

The dollar extended losses against the euro and cut gains versus the yen following the data, and U.S. stocks opened higher.

Gold is set to rise 0.9 percent this week, clawing back some of the previous week's 1.5 percent loss. It remains flat on the year, however, as signs of improvement in the

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