* London Brent crude lower at $44.50 a barrel LCOc1
* Rupee flat at 48.95 per dollar
* U.S. weekly jobless claims at 1330 GMT [MI/DIARY]
MUMBAI, Jan 29 (Reuters) - India's domestic gold demand remained quiet on Thursday as buyers awaited further price declines even as the yellowgold eased to trade below the psychological 14,000-rupees-mark, traders said.
"There are no phone calls.... no customers at retail shops as well," said Daman Prakash, director with Chennai-based gold importer, MNC Bullion, referring to the lack of activity in the trade.
"Virtually, even goldsmiths are workless," Prakash said.
India had bought gold in 'good quantities' during August-November 2008, when prices ruled relatively lower, traders said.
The price gap between the local gold and bank gold has widened due to lack of demand and profit-taking by investors.
The benchmark February gold MAUG9 traded 38 rupees lower at 13,856 rupees per 10 grams at 1:40 p.m., after hitting a three-month high of 14,214 rupees on Jan. 27.
Meanwhile, India's gold imports plunged more than 90 percent to just 1.2 tonnes in January 2009, from 18 tonnes in the same month last year, due to high prices and ample stocks, the Bombay Bullion Association said on Thursday. See [ID:nBOM215522]
"Scrap gold is still pouring in," said Kapilkumar Chokshi, a partner at Chokshi Arvind Jewellers, a scrap gold buyer in Mumbai's Zaveri Bazaar.
Following were the prices being quoted by HDFC Bank in rupees in the spot market at 1:15 p.m. INBULL03:
Thursday Wednesday
Gold .999/10 grams 14,120 14,245
Silver .999/kg 20,060 20,150
Following were prices in rupees on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. at 1:40 p.m. <0#MAU:>:
