Gold slips from record high on profit-taking; key US data eyed

*Gold hit record high of $3,578.50/oz on Wednesday

*US non-farm payrolls data due on Friday

*Silver eases after hitting its highest since Sept. 2011

Gold slipped on Thursday, as investors booked profits after bullion scaled an all-time peak on rising bets for a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut, while investors awaited the key U.S. jobs data on Friday.

Spot gold fell 0.6% to $3,538.56 per ounce as of 0637 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery dipped 1.1% to $3,596.20.

Bullion hit a record high of $3,578.50 on Wednesday.

"We've seen a bit of profit-taking, but gold is still in a bull market at this point in time. Rate-cut expectations and worries over the Federal Reserve's independence are going to add to safe-haven demand," GoldSilver Central MD Brian Lan said.

The U.S. Labor Department said on Wednesday that job openings fell more than expected to 7.181 million in July.

Several Fed officials said labour market concerns continue to mirror their beliefs that rate cuts are imminent. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said he thinks the central bank should lower rates at its next meeting this month.

The focus now shifts to the U.S. non-farm payrolls data that could offer more clarity on the Fed's monetary policy path.

Non-yielding gold typically performs well in a low-interest-rate environment.

"Should private investors diversify more heavily into gold, we see potential upside to gold prices to well above our $4,000 mid-2026 baseline. As a result, gold remains our highest-conviction long recommendation," Goldman Sachs said.

Adding to market jitters, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. might have to "unwind" trade deals it has reached with the European Union, Japan, South Korea and others, if it loses a Supreme Court case over tariffs.

Elsewhere, spot silver fell 0.8% to $40.85 per ounce, after hitting its highest since September 2011 on Wednesday. Platinum slipped 1% to $1,407.10 and palladium shed 0.8% to $1,138.11.