US gold futures ended weaker on Thursday, touching a near three-month low as a dollar rise and uncertainty about how US President Barack Obama's proposal to limit risk taking by banks could affect gold trading. April down 90 cents at $1,084.80 an ounce. Range $1,096.90 to $1,074.40 - the lowest since November 3.
GOLD: Bullion pressured by dollar's six-month high against euro on euro-zone fiscal fears - traders. Worries about bank liquidating commodities due to Obama's proposal prompt bullion investors to take less risk. Downside risks dominate in short term, with firmer dollar major negative factor - Commerzbank.
Futures could test last October's level at $1,060 due to liquidation below key support. COMEX estimated final volume at 272,616 contracts. COMEX gold open interest down 2,045 lots at 507,565 lots as of Tuesday. Gold/oil ratio at 14.74, down from 14.80 the previous day. Spot gold at $1,086.40 at 4:02 pm EST (2002 GMT), down from the previous session's late quote of $1,087.25.
SILVER: March ends down 22.8 cents, or 1.4 percent, at $16.212 an ounce, driven by investor selling. Range $16.755 to $16.015. COMEX estimated final volume at 44,506 lots. Spot silver at $16.20, versus the previous session's late quote of $16.54.
PLATINUM: April finishes up $1.80 at $1,493.90, rebounding from the previous session's losses driven by weak demand expectations. ETFS Platinum's holdings 214,900 ounces as of January 27; ETFS Palladium's holdings at 399,925 ounces.Spot platinum at $1,506.
PALLADIUM: March cloes down $3.40 at $413.35 an ounce on platinum's gains. Spot palladium at $418.50.