US gold ends down but cuts losses after Bernanke

NEW YORK, Dec 7 (Reuters) - U.S. gold futures ended
slightly lower on Monday, rebounding from session lows as the
dollar weakened after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's
comments on economic recovery signaled U.S. interest rates
would remain low for some time.

For the latest detailed report, click on [GOL/].

GOLD

* COMEX February gold GCG0 settles down $5.50 at $1,164
an ounce on the NYMEX.

* Ranged from $1,166.20 to $1,136.10.

* Gold futures posted biggest two-session percentage loss
since October, 2008.

* U.S. economy has improved but recovery remains fragile
and the jobless rate may remain elevated for some time -
Bernanke. [ID:nWEQ003642]

* Gold has rallied this year as the Fed kept interest rates
at near zero to jolt the economy out of recession - analysts.

* Dollar weakness, short-covering led to gold's turnaround
following Bernanke's comments - Frank McGhee at Integrated
Brokerage Services.

* Friday's sell-off was due to greater, swift liquidation
at high prices, and bull market in gold has not ended - Dennis
Gartman, independent investor and publisher of Gartman Letter.

* Gold-to-oil ratio at 15.63, up from the previous
session's 15.47.

* Spot gold XAU= at $1,154.85 at 3:33 p.m. EST (2033 GMT)
an ounce, against the previous session in New York at
$1,159.55.

* COMEX estimated final volume at a busy 263,553 lots.

* London's afternoon gold fix XAUFIX= at $1,142.50 an
ounce.

SILVER

* March silver SIH0 finishes down 16 cents at $18.360 an
ounce, tracking gold's weakness.

* Ranged from $17.895 to $18.585.

* COMEX estimated final volume at 43,624 lots.

* Spot silver XAG= was at $18.18, against $18.43 in the
previous session in New York.

* London silver fix XAGFIX= at $18.04.

PLATINUM

* January platinum PLF0 ends down $5.10 at $1,444.60 an
ounce due to gold's pullback and a higher dollar against the
euro.

* Spot platinum XPT= at $1,431.50 an ounce.

PALLADIUM

* March palladium PAH0 closes down $4.05, or 1.1 percent,
at $375.25 an ounce as investors unwind positions.

* Spot palladium XPD= at $371.50 an ounce.

Close Change Pct 2008 YTD

Chg Close % Chg
US gold GCG0 1164.00 -5.5 -0.5 884.3 31.6
US silver SIH0 18.360 -0.160 -0.9 11.295 62.5
US platinum PLF0 1444.60 -5.10 -0.4 941.50 53.4
US palladium PAH0 375.25 -4.05 -1.1 188.70 98.9
Prices at 3:07 p.m. EST (2007 GMT)
Gold XAU= 1158.15 -1.40 -0.1 878.20 31.9
Silver XAG= 18.19 -0.24 -1.3 11.30 61.0
Platinum XPT= 1438.50 -2.00 -0.1 924.50 55.6
Palladium XPD= 373.50 2.500 0.7 184.50 102.4
Gold Fix XAUFIX= 1142.50 -5.00 -0.4 836.50 36.6
Silver Fix XAGFIX= 18.04 -79.00 -4.2 14.76 22.2
Platinum Fix XPTFIX= 1430.00 3.00 0.2 1529 -6.5
Palladium FixXPDFIX= 367.50 1.00 0.3 365.0 0.7
(Reporting by Frank Tang; Editing by David Gregorio)