Gold falls off five-month high as dollar climbs off three-month low

Gold futures tilted lower in American trade off July 11 highs as the dollar index rebounded from November 22 lows, following earlier data from China's the world's largest metals consumer, and the US. 

As of 03:24 GMT, gold futures due in February fell 0.18% to $1,250.30 an ounce off five-month highs, while the dollar index rose 0.30% to 96.81 off three-week lows. 

Earlier Chinese data showed the trade surplus ballooned to $44.7 billion in November from $34 billion as imports outstripped exports. 

Chinese consumer prices rose 2.2%, slowing down from 2.5% in October, while producer prices rose 2.7%, also slowing down from 3.3%. 

From the US, an index tracking job opportunities rose to 7.08 million from 6.96 million in September, missing estimates of 7.22 million.  

Payrolls data released last Friday 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. 

Finally, Gold holdings at SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed investment fund, rose 1.52 tonnes on Friday to a total of 759.73 tonnes, after marking the second monthly profit in a row last month.