Oil prices climbed as countries including Australia moved ahead with plans to relax economic and social lockdowns put in place to halt the virus pandemic, kindling market hopes for a boost in demand for crude and its products. Brent crude was up 77 cents, or 2.6%, at $30.23 a barrel, while U.S. oil gained $1.06, or 4.5%, to $24.61 a barrel. Both contracts are heading for a second week of gains after the lows of April. Core European bond yields were little changed, and the spread between German and Italian ten-year government bonds narrowed by 6 basis points. Unemployment data due later in the day is expected to show a historic hit to the U.S. labour market. Forecasters expect the U.S. economy likely lost a staggering 22 million jobs in April, in what would be the steepest plunge in payrolls since the Great Depression and the starkest sign yet of how the virus pandemic is battering the world's top economy. The dollar slipped against a basket of six major currencies in early trading as investors defied the broader sense of doom. By early European trading, the dollar was edging up again, suggesting the optimism would not endure. A public holiday in Britain means liquidity will be thin as London markets are closed. Gold hovered near a two-week high hit in the previous session as investors awaited the U.S. jobs report, with spot gold holding just below the highest since April 27. --SPA 13:14 LOCAL TIME 10:14 GMT 0009 www.spa.gov.sa/w1324169