Kitco Newsn

Holdings of gold by global exchange-traded funds fell in February, ending a streak of four consecutive increases, the World Gold Council reported Thursday.

Gold prices are trading modestly down in late-morning U.S. action Thursday.

(Kitco News) – Gold prices remain under pressure following dovish comments from European Central Bank President Mario Draghi after the central bank loosened its monetary policy Thursday to protect the region’s economy from pervasive uncertainty.

The general mood of participants toward gold was upbeat during the recently concluded gathering of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada, says Credit Suisse.

According to the “mining clock,” a concept used to measure commodity cycles, we are now in the first third of a bull cycle, said Bob Thompson, senior vice president and portfolio manager of Raymond James.

McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE, TSX: MUX) says it has decided to suspend the distribution of a dividend of one-half cent per share, which would have been paid on March 15.

(Kitco News) – The U.S. Labor market continued to find some momentum last week as the Labor Department reported slightly stronger-than-expected jobless claims.

Gold prices are near steady in early U.S. trading Thursday. Gold and silver prices did dip to nine-week lows overnight.

The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged Thursday, extended the length of time it expects rates to remain at current levels and announced new refinancing operations, all aimed at maintaining liquidity to boost the economy.

Bitcoin-U.S. dollar prices are again near steady in early trading Thursday. Trading has been sideways and choppy recently, but this week’s modest gains favor the bulls.