Gold lower after strong U.S. data points

                     Gold futures traded lower in the early part of Friday’s Asian session as traders in the region digested some strong U.S. economic data points that could give the Federal Reserve room to imminently begin tapering its quantitative easing program. 

On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold futures for October delivery fell 0.28% to USD1,368.80 per troy ounce in Asian trading Friday. The October contract settled lower by 1.22% at USD1,372.60 per ounce on Thursday. 

Gold futures were likely to find support at USD1,351.90 a troy ounce, the low from Aug. 20, and resistance at USD1,416.30, Tuesday's high. 

In U.S. economic news out Thursday, the ADP National Employment Report showed the addition of 176,000 private sector jobs last month, but that missed the estimate calling for the addition of 180,000 new jobs. The July number was revised down to 198,000 from 200,000. 

The Labor Department said initial claims for jobless benefits fell by 9,000 last week to 323,000. The less volatile four-week moving average fell 3,000 to 328,500, the lowest reading since October 2007. The Labor Department releases the August jobs report Friday before the open of U.S. markets. 

The Institute for Supply Management said its August services purchasing managers index rose to 58.6% last month from 56.0% in July. That is good for the best reading since the index was created in 2008. Economists expected an August reading of 55%. 

Those data points, particularly the ADP report and jobless claims could be a precursor to a strong August non-farm payroll report. Should the August jobs number surprise to the upside, many traders believe it is a foregone conclusion the Fed will begin tapering its asset-buying program before the end of September. 

Elsewhere, Comex silver for December delivery fell 0.15% to USD23.220 per ounce while copper for December delivery inched down 0.03% to USD3.245. - investing.com