Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange closed lower on Friday as better-than-expected U.S. job data pushed up U.S. dollar.

The most active gold contract for April delivery fell 10.60 dollars, or 0.79 percent, to close at 1337.30 dollars per ounce.

The U.S. Labor Department announced on Friday that 200,000 new jobs were created in January, reflecting a continuous economic expansion.

Even better, average hourly wages jumped 9 cents to 26.74 U.S. dollars, which pushed the yearly increase to 2.9 percent, the highest level since 2009. Some 18 states raised their minimum wages in January.

The better-than-expected job and pay data offered significant support to the weak dollar.

The U.S. dollar index, a gauge of the greenback against a basket of other major currencies, rose 0.48 percent to 89.08 as of 1805 GMT.

Meanwhile, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has increased to more than 2.8 percent.

The latest developments, said some analysts, may lead to a potentially aggressive approach by the U.S. Federal Reserve when they decide interest rate hikes in March and later this year.

As for other precious metals, silver for March delivery fell 44.6 cents, or 2.60 percent, to settle at 16.709 dollars per ounce. Platinum for April went down 8.40 dollars, or 0.83 percent, to close at 999.40 dollars per ounce.