1455 GMT [Dow Jones] - Comex gold has given back early gains, in part after some of the U.S. economic data - such as construction spending and the ISM manufacturing index - were not as weak as feared, says Carlos Sanchez, precious-metals analyst with CPM Group. "That's when you saw gold prices begin to head lower," he says. "Perhaps there is a leveling-off of the weakening of the economy." This might have prompted some profit-taking selling in gold, although the metal held at interim support in the $920 region, he says. June gold is down $1.20 to $923.80, while May silver is 7.5 cents lower at $12.91. The modest pullback comes at a time when the dollar index and Dow industrials are slightly higher. (ALS)
