By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch
MADRID (MarketWatch) — Gold futures traded lower in Europe on Friday, continuing a pullback from the prior U.S. session following upbeat U.S. economic data.
Gold futures for February delivery GC2G -0.28% fell $8.20 to $1,646.30 an ounce, after closing down $5.40, or 0.3%, to end at $1,654.50 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Other precious and base metals prices also fell, while crude oil for February delivery was also weaker.
The dollar index DXY +0.36% , which measures the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, traded at 80.215, slightly up from late North American trading on Thursday. It firmed against the euro after the single currency failed to retake the $1.30 mark.
Data released Thursday showed weekly jobless claims declining more than expected, to an April 2008 low. Consumer prices were also flat against expectations for a rise.
In addition, investors were growing increasingly upbeat about a positive outcome for debt talks in Greece, with a slew of well-received debt auctions in Europe also luring investors back into stocks.
Europe stocks were sluggish, though, as investors awaited the outcome of those talks.
March silver futures SI2H -0.14% fell 8 cents to $30.43 an ounce, slightly off from the $30.51 an ounce, late the prior session.
Copper futures for the same month HG2H -0.91% fell 4 cents or 1% to $3.76 a pound.
Platinum for April delivery PL2J -0.24% retreated $9.20, or 0.6%, to $1,508.80 an ounce. March palladium PA2H -1.83% fell $8.40, or 0.5%, at $670 an ounce.
