Gold was higher by about $5 on Friday morning, seeming to ignore the fact that stock market investors were reassured by Thursday’s coordinated central bank plan to avoid a year-end bank funds liquidity crunch, which lessened fears that another banking system crisis was about to unfold. Instead, attentions were turned to the postponement of a decision regarding Greek debt aid.

Spot gold had hit a high of $1,799.50 and a low of $1,782.90 in morning trading. Friday’s London p.m. reference price was set at $1,794 by the LBMA. Spot silver had hit a morning high of $40.52 and a low of $39.92 as of the time of writing, and was up about 39 cents. Spot silver was fixed at $39.97 in the London a.m., according to Kitco market data.

The European Central Bank yesterday announced that it — supported by its counterparts in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and Switzerland — would conduct a series of three money market operations to assure banks meet their funding needs through year’s end.

Other news from Europe wasn’t so encouraging, however. With U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in attendance, European Union officials postponed a decision about whether to grant Greece $11 billion in emergency loans until October, heightening uncertainty regarding the prospect of a Greek default. Market participants are looking forward to next week’s meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board to see if the U.S. central bank will undertake any further actions to avert a further deterioration in economic and banking system conditions.

Turning to the exchanges, gold trusts were lower, while the iShares Silver Trust was higher.

• The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) was down almost 0.2%.
• The iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:IAU) was lower by nearly 0.25%.
• The iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:SLV) was almost 1.2% higher.

Gold and silver miners ETFs were moving lower for a fifth consecutive morning.

• The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDX) was about 1.1% lower.
• The Market Vector Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDXJ) was off around 0.3%.
• The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE:SIL) was 0.6% lower.

Shares of gold miners were recouping some of their recent losses, with Agnico Eagle Mines being the exception.

• Agnico Eagle Mines (USA) (NYSE:AEM) was 0.5% lower.
• Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:ABX) was showing a gain of more than 1%.
• Goldcorp (NYSE:GG) was up more than 1.3%.
• Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE:NEM) was 1.15% higher.
• NovaGold Resources (USA) (AMEX:NG) was up around 0.55%.

Silver mining shares were mixed in Friday morning trading.

• Coeur D’Alene Mines Corp. (NYSE:CDE) was up 0.8%.
• Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) was down 0.25%.
• Pan American Silver Corp. (USA) (NASDAQ:PAAS) was around 0.7 higher.
• Silver Wheaton Corp. (USA) (NYSE:SLW) was showing gains of more than 1%.
• Silver Standard Resources Inc. (USA) (NASDAQ:SSRI) was some 1.1% higher.

The author does not hold positions in any of the above-mentioned investments.