The biggest news today came from the U.S. housing sector. Housing starts jumped sharply in September on surging demand for apartment rentals, the Commerce Department said in a report.

Gold struggled today, bumping up against a number of factors that combined to keep it from crossing the $1200 threshold, which would have meant fresh buying.

Gold was pushed and pulled in two directions today, but nevertheless ended the week just off 3-1/2 month highs.

Indeed, the yellow precious metal eased on Friday as a