US gold futures pared losses on Thursday, after witnesses said police in oil-rich Saudi Arabia had fired upon protesters, prompting investors to buy bullion as a safe haven.
COMEX April gold futures settled down $17.1 or 1.2 percent at $1,412.5 an ounce on the COMEX division of the NYMEX. Ranged from $1,403 to $1,431.8 an ounce. Spot gold fell as low as $1,402.72 an ounce, a two-week low, and was later down 1.2 percent at $1,412.50 an ounce by 3:09 p.m. EST (2009 GMT).
COMEX May silver ended down 98.1 cents or 2.7 percent at $35.066 an ounce, as investors unwound recent profits. Ranged from $34.66 to $36.19. Spot silver fell 2.2 percent to $35.27 an ounce.
NYMEX April platinum finished down $36.4 or 2 percent at $1,765.6 an ounce in a broad metals decline. Spot platinum slid 1.9 percent to $1,761.49 an ounce. NYMEX June palladium closed down $15.25 or 2 percent at $766.40 an ounce, tracking platinum. Spot palladium lost 1.9 percent to $761.97.