COMEX gold futures settled with modest losses in a thinly traded session on Thursday as most market players waited on the sidelines ahead of Friday's September US employment data.
"Today seemed to be mostly characterised by some light profit-taking with most of the big players stepping aside and waiting for tomorrow's data," said one dealer.
December gold ended down 50 cents at $419.50 a ounce, after moving in a tight $418.80-$421.70 range.
The contract hit $422.20 on Wednesday, the highest price since April 13, when it was retreating from 16-year highs on the first of that month.
Spot fetched $417.80/8.55, slightly better than Wednesday's close at $417.75/8.50. London's afternoon fix was at $418.10.
December silver finished 2.8 cents weaker at $7.217 an ounce, reaching its highest price since April 19 at $7.30 from a low of $7.165.
Traders cited profit-taking following silver's 20 percent rise since bottoming at $6.07 on September 13.
Spot silver was lower at $7.16/19, from $7.20/7.23 late on Wednesday. Thursday's afternoon fix in London was set at $7.13. NYMEX January platinum lost $7.50 to end at $838.30 an ounce. Spot was last quoted at $838.50/843.50. December palladium closed up $5.95 at $233.45 an ounce. Spot palladium last traded at $228.50/234.50.