Kuala Lumpur:Bursa Malaysia Gold futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed higher on Friday, aligning with stronger global bullion prices. This increase occurred amidst caution ahead of the US nonfarm payrolls report set to be released tonight.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes observed that gold ended slightly up in range-bound trading before the release of significant US labor market data. He highlighted that gold faced considerable selling pressure earlier in the week, influenced by a robust US dollar and elevated US Treasury yields.

Despite these pressures, expectations for a US Federal Reserve rate hike have been delayed to December, which theoretically should have provided some relief for gold. Innes remarked that this delay did not fully ease the pressure on the metal.

At the close of trading, the spot-month September 2026 contract rose to US$4,199.30 per troy ounce from US$4,172.70 on Thursday. Meanwhile, the October 2026 contract increased to US$4,216.10 from US$4,189.30. The November 2026 contract also saw gains, reaching US$4,232.80 per troy ounce from US$4,206.00, with December 2026, February 2027, and April 2027 contracts all improving to US$4,232.80 from US$4,206.00.

The trading volume decreased to 144 lots from 174 the previous day, and open interest was slightly lower at 212 contracts compared to 213. Physical gold was fixed at US$4,151.65 per troy ounce at the London Bullion Market Association's afternoon fix on October 1.