US gold futures ended down $2 on Thursday as the dollar rose on signs of an improving US economic outlook, but technical buying lifted prices off lows. Benchmark COMEX February gold futures settled down $2 at $1,371.70 an ounce on the COMEX division of the NYMEX.
Ranged from $1,364.30 to $1,380 an ounce. COMEX gold volume steadied after noticeably busier sessions this week. US gold futures volume at 175,000 lots, 5 percent above its 30-day average, according to preliminary Reuters data. Spot gold fell 0.4 percent to $1,371.70 an ounce by 3:28 pm EST (2028 GMT).
COMEX March silver ended down 7.2 cents at $29.126 an ounce on gold's losses. Ranged between $28.815 and $29.600. COMEX estimated silver futures volume at 80,000 lots, about 10 percent below the 30-day average, according to preliminary Reuters data. Spot silver fell 0.7 percent to $29.05 an ounce. NYMEX April platinum finished up $1 at $1,735.10 an ounce on bargain-hunting after recent weakness. Spot platinum inched up 0.1 percent to $1,727.74 an ounce. NYMEX March palladium closed down $12.40 or 1.6 percent at $762.90 an ounce, tracking weaker metals and commodities. Spot palladium dropped 1.8 percent to $759.47.