Safe haven demand was strong after the US Labor Department reported that non-farm payrolls rose by a mere 39,000 in November, while a gain of well over 100,000 was expected.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate rose to 9.8% from 9.6%.
The data signalled a slowdown in recovery, reversing the upward trend in equity and commodity markets created by strong manufacturing reports that were released in the US, Europe and China earlier this week.
Investors were buying gold to protect wealth, driving the yellow metal back to the US$1,400/oz level.
Gold last traded at US$1,398/oz.
Silver and platinum climbed to US$28.93/oz and US$1,721/oz respectively.
Most major mining stocks were on the rise today.
Silver miner Fresnillo (LON:FRES) and platinum producer Lonmin (LON:LON) climbed 4.2% and 1% respectively.
African Barrick Gold (LON:ABG) also added 1%, while fellow gold producer Randgold Resources (LON:RRS) declined marginally.
Gold and base metal focused exploration group Horizonte Minerals (LON:HZM) was among the top performing small caps, advancing 5.5%.