Other metals finished higher as well. April platinum PLJ5, +0.11% rose $4.80, or 0.4%, to $1,173.60 an ounce, while June palladium PAM5, -0.01% the most-active contract, gained $1.75, or 0.4, to $811.05 an ounce.
May copper HGK5, -0.56% added 5.1 cents, or 1.9%, to $2.695 a pound.
Futures prices for gold rallied for a second straight session on Thursday to mark their highest settlement in more than a week.
Gold for April delivery GCJ5, -0.07% rose $8.60,or 0.7%, to settle at $1,210.10 an ounce on Comex. That was the highest settlement for a most-active contract since Feb. 18.
May silver SIK5, -0.23% also tacked on 15 cents, or 0.9%, to end at $16.624 an ounce — the best settlement for a most-active contract since Feb. 13.
Asian markets were largely flat in morning trade Friday after the dollar firmed on US inflation data, while disappointing Japanese figures challenged Tokyo's war on falling prices.
Japanese inflation slowed for a sixth straight month in January - dampened by weak consumer spending and falling energy prices - its lowest level since Tokyo launched an offensive on falling prices and tepid growth nearly two years ago.
Tokyo ticked up 0.07 per cent, Hong Kong added 0.54 per cent and Shanghai edged down 0.08 percent. Seoul slipped 0.12 per cent while Sydney was up 0.37 per cent and Wellington added 0.08 per cent. Markets in Taiwan were closed for a public holiday.
The dollar eased Friday after rallying on inflation data that pointed to rising price pressures in some areas of the US economy, which could ease the way for the Fed to hike interest rates.