Market watchers also said that next week brings options expiration and first notice day for the market, which can impact the direction of trade.

FORBES: Gold Prices To Be Driven By News Events Next Week

Still, a few traditional participants were gun shy about calling a direction for next week, wanting to see how prices settled Friday and keeping in mind options expiration and first notice day for futures would keep the market volatile.

FORBES: Weaker Gold Prices Expected For Next Week -- Kitco News Gold Survey

He pointed out that the move occurred a day after options expiration and ahead of first-notice day for gold and silver on Friday, which could mean some unraveling of positions.

FORBES: Focus: Sharp Gold Decline Blamed On Large Sell Order, Technicals, Softer Euro

Friday was first-notice day for December futures, which put pressure on the market earlier in the session.

FORBES: METALS OUTLOOK: Prices May Rise As Fiscal Cliff Talks Drag On, But Upside Limited

Although Tigers fans will not watch their first game this Saturday at home as planned, some students did not notice an impact on the first day back to class from the addition of 2, 300 new students, many from Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans and the University of New Orleans.

CNN: Classes resume at LSU after Katrina

With Australia having exposed India's limitations in the field on day one, new batsman Watson served notice of his intentions by pushing the first ball of the day for a quick single.

BBC: Hussey knock keeps Aussies on top

In a telephone conference call on Wednesday, an FAA official told contractors who operate the towers they would soon be receiving a letter giving notice that 168 towers would be closed on the first day of April because of government-wide spending cuts that were set in motion on Friday night.

CNN: Airport towers get temporary reprieve