Gold prices eased after a five-day gain as investors reacted to US job market data. Job growth was sluggish in November, with the unemployment rate rising to a four-year high. Traders are cautious about further monetary easing by the Federal Reserve.

Gold has surged more than 60% this year, while silver has doubled. Central bank buying and inflows into gold-backed ETFs have supported the rally. Goldman Sachs upgraded its copper-price forecast for next year, citing potential US import curbs.

Gold was up 0.1% to $4,309.77, hitting an all-time high in October. Silver declined 0.5%, while platinum and palladium both advanced. Benchmark copper futures slipped to $11,592 a metric ton. Other metals were mixed, with zinc slumping and aluminum up.

Investors will now focus on inflation data and remarks from Fed officials this week. Traders assigned a 20% chance of a rate reduction in January. Lower rates are typically positive for gold, which doesn’t pay interest. The US government shutdown has caused disruptions in data interpretation.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Gold Steadies After Five-Day Rally as Traders Mull US Jobs Data