NEW YORK June 4 (Reuters) - U.S. gold futures remained at lower levels for most of Friday's early session as investors pondered mixed signals in the May U.S. employment report in terms of needing to guard against risk. * For the latest detailed report, click on [GOL/]. GOLD * Benchmark U.S. gold futures for August delivery GCQ0 on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange lost $3.60 to $1,206.40 an ounce. * Lower range ran from $1,198.10 to $1,211 per ounce. The low was last seen on May 25. * After paring losses, then tumbling further, gold returns roughly to the modest lows where it stood before release of the U.S. jobs data as participants sort out the news - traders. * U.S. nonfarm payrolls grew at their fastest pace in 10 years in May, buoyed by recruitment for the decennial U.S. census, but private hiring slowed sharply as businesses opted to extend hours rather than hire new workers. [ID:nN03243431] * March and April payrolls data was revised to show 22,000 fewer jobs created than previously reported. [ID:n0AT004640] * But the unemployment rate dropped to 9.7 percent from 9.9 percent. * "This data is surprisingly less positive compared to the string of economic data we have been seeing this week. We have to see if today's disappointing number will give investors enough conviction to hold onto equity positions," said Tom Sowanick, chief investment officer at Omnivest Group in Princeton, New Jersey. * U.S. stocks fell sharply after the May payrolls data showed lower private hiring, which raised fears about the strength of the economic recovery. [.N] * Selling in equity markets provided an underpinning to gold as some players continued to look for security in the yellow metal as a tangible asset - traders. * Among gold traders, sellers continue placing stop-loss order that may lead down to $1,200, though the $1,175 to $1,250 trading range was expected to hold - RBC Wealth Management in New York. * The dollar's mixed readings against different currencies also kept gold in a holding pattern - traders. * The U.S. dollar firmed against the euro, in response to comments by French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who saw parity between the currencies as "good news," but fell against the yen in response to the tepid labor report. [USD/] * COMEX gold stocks CMWST slipped 675 ounces to 10,736,090 ounces as of Thursday. * By 10:45 a.m. EDT (1445 GMT), spot gold XAU= was at $1,205.35 an ounce, nearly even with $1,206.05 in late Thursday business. * London afternoon gold fix XAUFIX= held steady at $1,203.50 an ounce. SILVER * COMEX July silver SIN0 slid 38.10 cents, or 2.12 percent, to $17.55 an ounce. * Range spanned $17.44 to $18.035. * COMEX estimated 10 a.m. volume for July silver at 20,336 lots. * Silver was down by a greater percent than gold because it trades as a financial and industrial asset - traders. * COMEX silver stocks were drawn down by 2,168,143 lots to 117,345,385 lots on Thursday. * Spot silver XAG= declined to $17.53 an ounce from late Thursday's $17.94 an ounce. * London silver fix XAGFIX= was set sharply lower at $17.76 per ounce. PLATINUM * NYMEX July platinum PLN0 fell $16.90, or 1.1 percent, at $1,526 an ounce. * Spot platinum XPT= was at 1,519.50 an ounce, down from late Thursday's quote at $1,542.50 an ounce. PALLADIUM * September palladium PAU0 dropped $13.80, or 3.06 percent, to $437 an ounce. * Spot palladium XPD= eased to $435 from $448.50 late on Thursday. (Reporting by Carole Vaporean; Editing by Walter Bagley)

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