Gold prices rose above $2,680 per ounce on Friday, reaching its highest level since mid-December and extending gains for the fourth straight session. This came despite a stronger-than-expected jobs report highlighting the resilience of the US labor market and supporting the Federal Reserve's cautious stance on rate cuts. The economy added 256K jobs in December, beating forecasts of 160K, while unemployment dropped to 4.1% from 4.2%. Traders now expect the Fed to hold rates steady until the second half of the year. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding President-elect Donald Trump's tariff policies, seen as inflationary, continued to fuel demand for the metal. Although gold serves as a hedge against inflation, higher interest rates reduce its appeal as a non-yielding asset. For the week, gold is set for its best performance since mid-November last year.