PRECIOUS-Gold, silver dip as dollar rises after strong US jobs data

Feb 12 (Reuters) - Gold and silver fell on Thursday as the U.S. dollar firmed after stronger-than-expected January jobs data dented expectation for near-term interest rate cuts, while investors awaited inflation data due on Friday for more monetary policy cues.

FUNDAMENTALS

Spot gold XAU= was down 0.4% at $5,058.64 per ounce by 0134 GMT after rising more than 1% in the previous session.

U.S. gold futures GCcv1 for April delivery lost 0.3% to $5,080.0 per ounce.

Spot silver XAG= fell 1.4% to $82.87 per ounce, after a 4% climb on Wednesday.

The U.S. dollar index .DXY rose, building on Wednesday's rally following the surprisingly strong employment report that suggested underlying U.S. economic health. A stronger dollar makes greenback-priced metals more expensive for other currency holders. USD/

U.S. job growth unexpectedly accelerated in January and the unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, signs of labour market stability that could give the Federal Reserve room to keep interest rates unchanged for some time while policymakers monitor inflation.

But the largest increase in payrolls in 13 months likely exaggerates the labour market's health, as revisions showed the economy added only 181,000 jobs in 2025 instead of the previously estimated 584,000.

The Fed will keep rates unchanged through Chair Jerome Powell's term ending in May but cut immediately afterward in June, a Reuters poll showed, with economists warning that policy under his likely successor, Kevin Warsh, could become too loose.

Investors now await the weekly jobless claims report on Thursday and inflation data on Friday for more cues on the Fed's monetary policy path.

After talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said they reached no "definitive" agreement on how to move forward with Iran but he insisted negotiations with Tehran would continue to see if a deal can be achieved.

Spot platinum XPT= shed 1% to $2,110.63 per ounce, while palladium XPD= rose 0.4% to $1,707.17.