Gold prices traded slightly lower during Asian trading on Friday as investors awaited the release of closely watched United States monthly employment data.
By 4:25 pm AEST (6:25 am GMT), spot gold was down 0.1% at US$4,470.09 an ounce.
The U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report is expected to provide further clues on the Federal Reserve's (Fed) policy path, with expectations for a September rate hike continuing to recede.
Ahead of the key data release, Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday that he was leaning towards keeping interest rates unchanged at the September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, provided upcoming inflation data does not deliver any surprises.
Investors responded by pushing U.S. bond yields and the U.S. dollar lower, helping gold extend its recovery from a four-week low reached on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices traded near their highest levels since 24 July amid ongoing U.S.-Iran hostilities and clashes over the Strait of Hormuz.
