CHICAGO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose on Thursday as the U.S. dollar index and Treasury yields fell.
The most active gold contract for February delivery rose 47.60 U.S. dollars, or 2.38 percent, to close at 2,044.90 dollars per ounce.
The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged as expected on Wednesday, and indicated that there would be at least three rate cuts in 2024.
Economic data released Thursday also dampened gold. The U.S. Commerce Department reported that U.S. retail sales edged up 0.3 percent in November to 705.7 billion dollars, from a revised 0.2 percent drop in October.
The U.S. Labor Department reported that U.S. initial jobless claims fell to 202,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised level of 221,000.
Silver for March delivery rose 1.465 dollars, or 6.39 percent, to close at 24.386 dollars per ounce. Platinum for January delivery rose 45.80 dollars, or 4.97 percent, to close at 967.90 dollars per ounce. ■
