Gold futures fell Friday, pacing losses in crude oil, as a strengthening dollar weighed on dollar-denominated commodities prices. Gold rose slightly earlier in the session after data showed the U.S. lost more jobs in 2008 than at any time since World War II. Gold for February delivery was last down $8.60, or 1%, at $845.90 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. It's set to end the week down more than 3%, the first weekly loss in five weeks. The dollar rose against a basket of its major rivals Friday, with the dollar index up more than 1%. Dollar-denominated commodities prices and the greenback tend to move in opposite directions. Also moving gold prices, crude-oil futures fell for a fourth straight session on worries that the recessionary economy will further cut into energy demand. Weaker oil prices tend to reduce gold's appeal as a hedge against inflation. In economic news, the Labor Department reported that nearly 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008, with 1.9 million destroyed in just the past four months. It's the biggest job loss in any calendar year since 1945. The unemployment rate rose to 7.2%, the highest in 16 years. Some investors buy gold as a safe haven against economic troubles. See full story on jobs report. Trading in other metals was mixed Friday. March copper rose 1.9% to $1.507 a pound, while March silver slid 0.6% to $11.03 an ounce. April platinum fell 0.8% to $987 an ounce. March palladium fell 3.4% to $191.40 an ounce Holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust, the largest exchange-traded gold fund, totaled 787.60 tons Thursday, down slightly from a day earlier, according to the latest data from the fund.

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