Gold was lower and silver higher Tuesday morning following a better-than-expected report on U.S. manufacturing and new data on Chinese economic activity.

Spot gold was down 0.09%, bid at $1,662.80 as of 10:42 a.m., having traded as high as $1,672.80 and as low as $1,656.20 an ounce, according to Kitco market data. The London afternoon reference price was set at $1,664, $12.75 an ounce higher than Monday’s afternoon reference price.

Spot silver was showing a 0.45% gain, bid at $31.15. The morning high as of time of writing was $31.45 and the low was $30.90. Tuesday’s reference price was set at $30.78 an ounce in the London a.m., 42 cents an ounce below Monday’s price fix.

The China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 53.3 in April from 51.0 in February, fueled by growth in production and new orders.

U.S. manufacturing activity picked up speed in April. The Institute of Supply Management reported that its monthly manufacturing index rose for the 33rd consecutive month in April, rising to 54.8 from March’s 53.4 reading. Economists’ consensus was for a drop to 53. U.S. manufacturers also hired more new employees in April than in March, a welcome sign ahead of Friday’s employment report.

Yesterday, the ISM-Chicago index of Midwest manufacturing activity dropped for a second straight month, falling to 56.2, its lowest since November 2009. Although above 50, which indicates expansion, regional manufacturing surveys indicate the sector got off to a slow 2Q start compared to 1Q.

Construction spending eked out a small 0.1% gain in March, as public-project investments fell to a five-year low, according to the Commerce Dept. The consensus estimate was for a 0.5% gain. February construction spending was revised downward, to 1.4%.

There have also been signs that hiring has been weakening. Payroll-processing firm Intuit reported that small businesses added 40,000 new jobs in April, down from 75,000 in March. Bank of America plans to lay off some 2,000 more bankers spread across its investment and commercial-banking and wealth-management units.

Automakers, including Chrysler, Nissan and Toyota, report their April U.S. car sales figures today.

Gold bullion prices rose above $1,670 an ounce for the first time in more than two weeks in London morning trading Tuesday, with Continental European markets closed for the May 1 holiday, BullionVault reported. “The reason for the sell-off remains uncertain,” BullionVault quoted Standard Bank commodities strategist Leon Westgate. “However, given the volumes traded, it is unlikely to be a fat finger.”

In U.S. stock exchange trading, gold trusts were headed lower and the iShares Silver Trust was moving higher.

The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) was down around 0.25%.
The iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:IAU) was down around 0.18%.
The iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:SLV) was up around 0.4%.

Gold and silver mining ETFs were moving higher.

The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDX) was showing gains of some 0.52%.
The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDXJ) was up around 1.3%.
The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE:SIL) was around 0.6% higher.

Gold mining shares were on the plus side, though NovaGold Resources was showing steep losses.

Agnico-Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) was down around 0.45%.
Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) was up around 0.1%.
Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO) was up and down around the unchanged level.
Goldcorp (NYSE:GG) was up more than 0.7%.
Kinross Gold Corp. USA (NYSE:KGC) was around 0.5% higher.
Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) was up between 0.6% and 0.8%.
NovaGold Resources (NYSEAMEX:NG) was dropping hard and fast, down around 6%.
Yamana Gold (USA) (NYSE:AUY) was up less than 0.1%.

Silver mining shares were also higher, Pan American Silver the exception.

Coeur d’Alene Mines (NYSE:CDE) was some 1.4% higher.
Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) was around 1.2% higher.
Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS) was showing losses of around 0.9%.
Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW) was up around 0.7%.
Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ:SSRI) was moving higher, up around 1.1%.

As of this writing, Andrew Burger did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Adrian Ash of BullionVault contributed to this report.