Gold and Silver Futures Slip in Thursday NY Merc Trading

Gold and silver futures declined Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange as stronger dollar sentiment pressured precious metals. February gold settled at $1,945.20 per ounce, down 0.8%. March silver fell 1.2% to $22.63 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.5%, reducing appeal for dollar-denominated commodities. Analysts cite rising Treasury yields and Fed rate-hike expectations as near-term headwinds. Trading volume was moderate ahead of Friday’s U.S. jobs report, which may influence Fed policy outlook. No major supply disruptions or geopolitical catalysts were reported during the session.