By William L. Watts
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Gold futures extended early gains Thursday after the government said first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell to 338,000 in the week ended Dec. 21. Economists had forecast a decline to around 345,000. Gold for February delivery GCG4 +0.74% , which had risen heading into the report, extended gains and changed hands in recent action at $1,213.30 an ounce, a gain of $10, or 0.8%.
