Non farm payroll figures show that the US added 173,000 jobs in August, lower than the 220,000 expected by analysts.

The figures released by the Department of Labor on Friday are the last before September’s interest rate decision by the Federal Reserve and are the lowest since 2013. The disappointing numbers, alongside recent volatility in China, could indicate that a rate rise will be pushed back.

However, unemployment dropped to 5.1 percent, the lowest figure in seven and a half years.

The price of gold steadied this morning ahead of the data, with spot gold at $1,123.26 an ounce at 1144 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery were down $1.70 at $1,122.80.