A better-than-expected report on U.S. hiring pushed gold slightly lower in Friday trading. The metal ended the week with a 1.7% loss.

The Labor Department said that the U.S. economy produced 203,000 new non-farm jobs in November, topping the 180,000 new hires forecast by economists. Federal Reserve officials have said a recovering job market is one factor that could prompt them to curtail the central bank’s monthly bond-buying in the near term.

Gold futures for February dipped 0.2% to $1,229 per ounce on Friday, according to CME Group. Gold traded as high as $1,245 and as low as $1,210.10. Bullion closed in London at $1,231, according to BullionVault.

Silver futures for March delivery edged down 0.2% to $19.52 per ounce. Friday’s high for silver was $19.79, while the low was $19.17.

Metal funds moved slightly higher on Friday.

• The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) rose 0.2%.
• The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) inched up 0.1%.
• The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) added 0.4%.

Mining ETFs were mixed during the day.

• The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) was flat.
• The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) fell 0.6%.
• The Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) increased 0.4%.

Gold stocks mostly faded on Friday.

• Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM) slid 0.5%.
• Barrick Gold (ABX) dipped 0.2%.
• Eldorado Gold (EGO) rose 0.5%.
• Goldcorp (GG) gained 1%.
• Kinross Gold (KGC) sank 0.7%.
• Newmont Mining (NEM) declined 0.8%.
• NovaGold Resources (NG) dropped 1.3%.
• Yamana Gold (AUY) slipped 1.1%.

Silver mining shares were mixed during the day.

• Coeur d’Alene Mines (CDE) fell 1.3%.
• Hecla Mining (HL) slid 0.4%.
• Pan American Silver (PAAS) rose 0.5%.
• Silver Wheaton (SLW) climbed 1%.
• Silver Standard Resources (SSRI) dropped 2%.

As of this writing, Christopher Freeburn did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Adrian Ash of BullionVault contributed to this report.