Better-than-expected reports on U.S. first-time unemployment claims and manufacturing activity rallied the dollar, sending gold down slightly in Thursday trading.

Gold futures for December delivery slipped to $1,715.50 on Thursday, according to CME Group. Gold traded as high as $1,727.50 and as low as $1,715.10. Gold bullion closed in London at $1,718, according to BullionVault.

Silver futures for December delivery also dipped, closing down at $32.25 per ounce. Thursday’s high for silver was $32.70, while the low was $32.90.

Gold and silver funds moved lower in Thursday trading.

• The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) slipped 0.5%.
• The iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:IAU) also dipped 0.5%.
• The iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:SLV) edged down 0.2%.

Gold and silver mining ETFs mostly declined during the day.

• The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDX) fell 1.7%
• The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDXJ) dropped 0.5%.
• The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE:SIL) increased 0.1%.

Gold mining shares mostly declined on Thursday, with Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) falling hard after reporting declining Q3 profits and more delays on its Pascua-Lama mine.

• Agnico-Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) slid 0.3%.
• Barrick Gold plunged 9.4%.
• Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO) dipped 0.2%.
• Goldcorp (NYSE:GG) rose 0.3%.
• Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC) retreated 0.9%
• Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) declined 2.5%.
• NovaGold Resources (AMEX:NG) edged down 0.2%.
• Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY) fell 0.6%.

Silver mining shares broadly climbed Thursday.

• Coeur d’Alene Mines (NYSE:CDE) jumped 3%.
• Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) increased 0.8%.
• Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS) gained 3%.
• Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW) gained 1.6%.
• Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ:SSRI) rose 2.4%.

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.