U.S. Gold Gained 70 Cents

U.S. gold and silver futures settled higher Friday at the New York Mercantile Exchange amid mixed U.S. economic data ahead of the holiday weekend.

At settlement, most-active February gold was up 70 cents at $622.30 an ounce,
while March silver was up 14.5 cents at $12.635 an ounce.

After the Comex close, Feb gold at the Chicago Board of Trade was up $1.50 at
$623, while Mar silver traded 20.7 cents higher at $12.68.

Analysts at MKS Finance said in a daily note that economic data was mixed and
provided little direction for the complex.

Durable-goods orders rose during November much more than expected as aircraft
and computer demand climbed, but a key gauge of business spending fell a second
month in a row.

Orders for durables increased by 1.9% last month to a seasonally adjusted
$214.24 billion, the Commerce Department said Friday. Durables fell an
unrevised 8.2% in October. Durables were up 8.7% during September and flat in
August.