TOKYO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Gold inched down on Friday after topping $1,220 per ounce the previous day to mark a record high for the third straight day, while the monthly U.S. non-farm payrolls report due at 1330 GMT is keenly awaited. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold XAU= was at $1,205.55 per ounce at 0018 GMT, down 0.1 percent from New York's notional close of $1,207.10. * It rose to $1,226.10, an all-time high, on Thursday as strong buying by investment funds more than offset news that central banks could be withdrawing liquidity from the financial system. [GOL/] * U.S. gold futures for February delivery GCG0 fell 0.9 percent to $1,207.10 per ounce. * The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), said its holdings rose 0.276 tonnes to 1,131.490 tonnes on Thursday. The holdings are nearing the record high of 1,134.03 tonnes hit on June 1. [GOL/SPDR] * The world's largest silver-backed exchange-traded fund, the iShares Silver Trust (SLV), said its silver holdings rose 113.05 tonnes or 1.2 percent from the previous business day to a record 9,514.35 tonnes on Thursday. [ID:nT279057] MARKET NEWS * The euro firmed against the dollar on Thursday after comments by the European Central Bank suggested it would gradually withdraw emergency liquidity from the system. [USD/] * ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet laid out a package of decisions on ending and tightening up the measures it has taken to boost liquidity to the banking sector. [ID:nGEE5B227K] * A poll of 33 analysts, traders and funds conducted by Reuters this week found most believe gold prices are in for a correction before the end of the year, though the precious metal's bull run is still believed to be intact. [ID:nGEE5B21N7] * Friday's U.S. employment report is expected to show payrolls shed fewer jobs in November than October. Economists polled by Reuters gave a median estimate of 130,000 jobs lost in November, compared with 190,000 in October. * U.S. stocks fell on Thursday after data showed the vast U.S. services sector unexpectedly shrank in November and investors worried that Friday's non-farm payrolls report may show the recovery is sluggish. [.N] DATA EVENTS * The following events are expected on Friday: ECON - Swiss CPI for November (0815 GMT) - U.S. employment report for November (1330 GMT) - U.S. factory orders for October (1500 GMT) RELATED NEWS >Gold, white sugar hit peaks;oil, copper fall [COM/WRAP] >S&P launches gold-hedged U.S. equities index [ID:nN03519428] >Copper, sugar, gold drive commods gains in 2009 [ID:nN03119212] >Commodities seen higher in 2010, gains slow-UBS [ID:nSP483464] >Goldman revises up copper, gold forecasts [ID:nGEE5B225X] >Investors taking contradictory path with gold [ID:nLJ412154] >China needs to buy gold in long-term-industry exec[ID:nT214186] Precious metals prices at 0013 GMT Metal Last Change Pct chg Day ago pct MA 30 RSI Spot gold $1204.75 -$2.35 -0.19% +34.31% $860.10 73 Spot silver $18.69 -$0.11 -0.59% +56.01% $11.29 55 Spot plat $1474.50 -$6.00 -0.41% -1.47% $1414.68 61 TOCOM gold 3,429 -23 -0.67% +0.56% 3,240 70 TOCOM plat 4,200 -34 -0.80% +0.60% 4,022 63 Currencies Euro/dlr $1.505 -$0.002 -0.11% +0.05% Dlr/yen 88.23 0.04 +0.05% +0.89% TOCOM prices in yen per gram, except TOCOM silver which is priced in yen per 10 grams. Spot prices in $ per ounce. (Reporting by Risa Maeda; Editing by Michael Watson) ((risa.maeda@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3 6441 1856; Reuters Messaging: risa.maeda.reuters.com@reuters.net)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)) ((Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation : view story .134 * Reuters Plus : from your WebDSS screen For more information on Top News, visit topnews.reuters.com)) Reuters Terminal users can see related news and prices by double clicking on the codes in brackets: - All precious metals headlines [GOL] - Precious metals market reports [GOL/] - Daily fixing headlines [GOL/FIX] - Technical analysis [PREC/I] - Indian gold reports [GOL/IN] - European gold prices <0#PREC> - London interbank gold forward rates GOFO <0#GOFO=> - London silver forwards SIFOSIFO= - Gold lease rates LGLR<0#LGLR=> - London Bullion Market Association LBMA01 - New York Comex gold <0#GC:> and silver <0#SI:> - New York platinum <0#PL:> and palladium <0#PA:> - Asian gold prices <0#PREC> - Australian precious metals prices <0#AUPREC=> - Shanghai Gold Exchange prices - Hong Kong gold exchange prices HKGG - Hong Kong bullion prices SHKG - Indian bullion prices INBULL<0#PREC-IN> - Japanese producer prices For Related News and other topics, double click on one of these codes: SPEED GUIDES COMMOD ENERGY REUTERS

Source