Other commodities markets closed mostly higher.

Investors turned to gold as the dollar lost ground to the euro. The euro bought $1.4357, up from $1.4323 Thursday.

A falling dollar tends to boost gold and other commodities prices as investors try to hedge against currency weakness by putting money in raw materials.

An ounce of gold for February delivery gained $12.20 to settle at $815.40 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

"Gold was helped by the weakness in the dollar. Also, the fact that gold is holding above $800 an ounce ... people took that as a buying opportunity based on expectations it will go higher," said Carlos Sanchez, a precious metals analyst at CPM Group.

Silver futures added 14.8 cents to $14.488 an ounce, while January platinum futures picked up $18.80 to $1,536.30 an ounce on the Nymex.

Thin trading volume ahead of the holidays also exacerbated the price swings, analysts said.

"The trading books are being squared. People had a good year so don't want to take any big positions," said Jon Nadler, an analyst at Kitco Bullion Dealers.

Meanwhile, oil prices rose Friday after the Commerce Department reported consumer spending jumped 1.1 percent in November, the biggest one-month gain since 2004 and well above expectations. Strong consumer spending has helped keep the economy — and oil demand — afloat despite problems in the credit and mortgage markets.

Consumer spending makes up two-thirds of all economic activity in the U.S.

Higher oil prices also helped hoist gold over the $800 mark, as investors shifted assets to the metal traditionally seen as a haven from inflation.

Light, sweet crude for February delivery rose $2.25 to settle at $93.31 on the Nymex. January heating oil futures rose 1.96 cents to $2.6091 a gallon, while January gasoline futures added 5.19 cents to $2.3795 a gallon.

Industrial metals advanced broadly on the London Metal Exchange. Copper jumped nearly 5 percent, while zinc gained more than 4 percent.

Nymex copper futures for March gained 13.2 cents to $3.0975 a pound.