Gold dipped marginally in Thursday trading as investors contemplated a report showing higher-than-expected first time jobless benefit claims in advance of tomorrow’s release of the U.S. Labor Department’s March jobs report. The metal pulled back from steeper losses earlier in the session, but ended down for the third consecutive day.

Gold futures for May delivery edged fractionally lower to $1,552 per ounce on Thursday, according to CME Group. Gold traded as high as $1,559 and as low as $1,540.10. Gold bullion closed in London at $1,555, according to BullionVault.

Silver futures for May delivery fell 0.1% to $26.77 per ounce. Thursday’s high for silver was $27.02, while the low was $26.58.

Gold and silver funds sank in Thursday trading.

• The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) dipped 0.3%.
• The iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:IAU) declined 0.4%.
• The iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:SLV) also slipped 0.4%.

Gold and silver mining ETFs moved higher during the day.

• The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDX) gained 2.8%.
• The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDXJ) rose 2.6%.
• The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE:SIL) advanced 2.7%.

Gold mining shares improved on Thursday.

• Agnico-Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) climbed 2.3%.
• Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) added 1.2%.
• Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO) moved up 1.5%.
• Goldcorp (NYSE:GG) rose 1.1%.
• Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC) gained 1.4%.
• Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) increased 1.7%.
• NovaGold Resources (AMEX:NG) surged 4%.
• Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY) advanced 3.6%.

Silver mining shares fell also moved up during the day.

• Coeur d’Alene Mines (NYSE:CDE) improved 4.4%.
• Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) soared 7%.
• Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS) gained 4.6%.
• Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW) rose 2.4%.
• Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ:SSRI) climbed 3.4%.

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