Modest price gains for gold, silver ahead of U.S. data

(Kitco News) -  Gold and  silver futures prices are seeing mild gains in early U.S. trading Thursday, ahead of some of U.S. economic data and on a corrective bounce from Wednesday’s losses. The safe-haven metals are being squelched this week amid less risk aversion in the marketplace. February gold futures were last up $2.20 at $1,840.80 and March Comex silver was last up $0.03 at $24.02 an ounce. 

Markets could react to U.S. economic data due for release Thursday, including the weekly jobless claims report, the consumer price index, real earnings and the monthly Treasury budget statement.

The conclusion of the meeting of the European Central Bank Thursday morning saw the ECB expand its bond-buying program by 500 million Euros. The new quantitative easing measures were expected by the marketplace.