US gold futures ended lower on Thursday, after a brief rally to a record high, as technical selling more than offset investor jitters over a European debt crisis due to a politically unstable Portugal. April gold futures settled down $3.10 at $1,434.90 an ounce on the COMEX division of the NYMEX. Ranged from $1,423.70 to $1,448.60 an ounce.
Spot gold dropped 0.3 percent to $1,432.35 an ounce by 2:50 pm EDT (1850 GMT). Bullion retreated after hitting an all-time peak at $1,447.40 an ounce. COMEX May silver finished up 17.7 cents at $37.375 an ounce on strong industrial demand amid short-term supply tightness. Range spanned $36.850 to $38.180 an ounce. Spot silver gained 0.5 percent to $37.55 an ounce, having earlier rose to a 31-year high of $38.13. NYMEX April platinum ended flat at $1,760 an ounce as the market took a breather. Spot platinum slipped 0.1 percent to $1,750.50 an ounce. NYMEX June palladium closed up $2.95 at $752.25 an ounce, rebounding after recent decline.