Data released today by payrolls processor and survey-maker ADP showed that the U.S. private sector added 179,000 jobs in July, more than experts predicted. That gave the U.S. dollar gave the dollar a middling-to-strong boost.

Weakness in the U.S. dollar is pushing the markets around today, and gold is especially benefiting. In mid-afternoon trade, gold is up around $12.00 of which almost $10.00 is due to the sagging dollar.

Markets got off to a shaky start Monday with no financial instrument really holding sway – at least not on the positive side.