By Barbara Kollmeyer
MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Gold futures for December delivery GCZ2 -0.05% fell $2.20 to $1,661 an ounce in European trading hours on Thursday, after closing lower a day earlier. Investors sold gold and global equities as jitters built ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Other metals were mixed, with silver for September delivery SIU2 -0.25% down 14 cents, or 0.4%, to $3.46 an ounce. Platinum for October delivery PLV2 +0.43% rose $3.40, or 0.2%, to $1,524.60 an ounce and palladium for September delivery PAU2 -0.24% fell $1.35, or 0.2%, to $633.50 an ounce. September copper HGU2 +0.58% rose 2 cents, or 0.5%, to $3.46 a pound.
