Gold prices gained on Monday as investors turned to the yellow metal for safe refuge amid persistent uncertainty over the health of the global economy.

US employers added fewer workers in March than anticipated, keeping the door open for the Federal Reserve to launch fresh round of monetary easing.

Non-farm payrolls increased by 120,000 in March, the Labor Department said today. Economists forecast a gain of 205,000.

Gold for June delivery was up 0.8% or US$12.90, at US$1,643 per ounce on the Comex division of the New York Stock Exchange.

Gold had dropped more than 2% last week after the latest FOMC minutes showed Fed policymakers' were less inclined towards further quantitative easing.

High crude oil prices and higher inflation in China also added to the allure of the precious metal.

China's physical gold demand jumped 20% last year, compared to a 7% rise in global demand, according to the World Gold Council.

The dollar index rose today after sliding on the US jobs data in the previous session.

The greenback managed to post a 1.3% gain last week.

The yen rose against all major peers after data showed a return to current-account surplus and as tensions escalated over a North Korean rocket launch.

The euro touched a one-month low versus the Japanese currency on worries that the long-running debt crisis is taking a toll on the region's economy.

The dollar weakened against the yen.

The Swiss franc strengthened above the 1.20 ceiling against the euro imposed by the nation’s central bank, spurring speculation that the country will intervene to weaken the currency.