US gold futures ended 1 percent lower on Thursday, retreating sharply from record highs as better-than-expected US jobless claims data and a resurgent dollar prompted investors to take profits ahead of Friday's jobs report. COMEX December gold futures settled down $12.70 at $1,335 an ounce on the COMEX division of the NYMEX.
Range ran from $1,326.50 to $1,366 - a record high. COMEX gold market's open interest climbed 4,737 contracts to a record high 621,941 lots as of Wednesday, according to exchange data. Estimated gold volume at 255,500 lots, the highest since late July and more than doubled its 30-day average, preliminary Reuters data showed. By 3:30 pm EDT (1930 GMT), spot gold fell 0.8 percent to $1,334.50. London afternoon gold fixed at $1,345 an ounce.
COMEX December silver ended down 45.90 cents, or 2 percent, at $22.584 an ounce, as the white metal fell more than gold. Ranged from $22.475 to $23.530 an ounce. COMEX estimated volume at 88,000 lots, more than double its 30-day average, according to preliminary Reuters data. Spot silver was trading down 2.3 percent at $22.59 an ounce. London silver was fixed at $23.38 an ounce. NYMEX January platinum finishes down $7 at $1,705 an ounce as investors took profits after recent rallies - traders.
Spot platinum slipped less than 0.1 percent to $1,694.50 an ounce. NYMEX December palladium closed down $2.55 at $587.10 an ounce on platinum's coattails. Spot palladium was trading up 1.2 percent at $585.50 an ounce.