NEW YORK — A disappointing jobs report has sapped demand for most commodities, but gold prices are slightly higher as the dollar weakens.
Prices for silver, oil and other commodities are lower after the Labor Department said employers cut 263,000 jobs last month, up from 201,000 in August and worse than the 180,000 losses economists were expecting. A surprising decline in factory orders was also worrisome.
The recent string of worse-than-expected economic reports has led investors to worry about a slow recovery and ongoing weak demand for commodities.
Silver is down 21 cents at $16.23 an ounce, while platinum is down $6.40 at $1,275.60 an ounce.
Bucking the trend, gold prices are up $3.60 to $1,004.30 an ounce, after earlier falling to as low as $987.
