report dec

Gold and silver prices moved narrowly in both New York and London during the holiday-shortened week. Platinum, however, soared following news that the SEC approved a proposed rule change to list and trade ETF Securities Platinum and Palladium Trusts.

In other markets, crude oil pushed above $78 a barrel for the first time in three weeks while US stocks ended at new 2009 highs.

Major European indexes enjoyed weekly gains as well.

Gold gained on Friday but recorded another weekly decline as a stronger US dollar, which hit a three-month high this week, pulled prices down.

Bullion generally moves opposite of the greenback. Silver and platinum managed modest gains in New York, but retreated in London.

The dollar's strength was also cited as a catalyst in curbing investor appeal toward riskier assets, as in stocks.

Major US and European indexes were mixed on the last full trading week in 2009.

Precious metals retreated in the U.S. on Friday and ended lower around the world for the week as gold tracked opposite of the dollar's movement and the other metals followed the yellow metal.

Silver declined the most, with weekly losses of more than 7 percent. Gold was in the middle while platinum declined the least.

Crude oil also plunged more than 7 percent.

In stocks, major US indexes rose on Friday but ended mixed for the week. European indexes finished the week lower.

Commodities plunged on Friday as the US dollar firmed following a Labor Department report showing that employers cut fewer jobs last month.

The unemployment rate fell to 10 percent from the prior 10.2 percent reading. Precious metals retreated in London earlier in the day, but the employment news brought New York gold, silver and platinum prices sharply lower....