Spot gold was softer in NY trade this morning, changing hands around $1526, some $3.30 off yesterday’s close and $5.40 off an earlier $1,532.50 high.  The London pm fix came in at $1,527.50.  Spot silver, on the other hand, was moving higher and trading around $36.36, some $0.40-plus above its opening price and nearly 1% above yesterday’s close.  The price of an ounce of silver was set at $35.86 in London. Mining stock Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL) led the way for silver stocks, trading more than 3.3% higher.

The ADP Employer survey for June came in stronger than expected, and the European Central Bank raised its benchmark lending rate 0.25%, with the possibility of further increases to come.  German industrial production and UK initial jobless claims also came in better than expected as well.  The UK’s Monetary Committee voted to hold its benchmark lending rate steady at 0.5% amidst signs of weakness in the economy.

ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet also said that the central bank will make it easier for Portugal to borrow emergency funds, all of which could be taken as easing risk-averse, safe haven demand for precious metals.  Bond market participants’ negative outlook on the weaker EU economies continues, however.  The yield on Greek, Irish and Portuguese 2-year notes all exceed 15%, according to Bloomberg.

Turning to the gold and silver sectors of the stock market, the major gold and silver ETFs were mixed  in early trading with gold moving lower and silver moving higher.

• The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD) was trading some 0.1% lower.
• The iShares Gold Trust (NYSE: IAU) was down some 0.1%.
• The iShares Silver Trust (NYSE: SLV) was up between 0.8% and 0.9%.

Gold and silver mining ETFs were trading higher on Thursday in early stock market action.

• The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDX) was up nearly 0.8%.
• The Market Vector Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDXJ) was up around 0.9%.
• The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE:SIL) was up more than 1.5%.

As were the shares of gold miners in early Thursday trading.

• Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE: AEM) was trading down between 0.7% and 0.8%.
• Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) was trading higher, up between 0.8% and 1%.
• Goldcorp (NYSE: GG) was up more than 0.5%.
• Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM) was trading around 1% higher.
• NovaGold Resources (AMEX: NG) was up over 1.2%.

Silver mining stocks were also stronger.

• Coeur D’Alene Mines Corp. (NYSE: CDE) was up between nearly 0.8%.
• Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL) was trading more than 3.3% higher.
• Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ: PAAS) was up around 2.2%.
• Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE: SLW) was up more than 1.5%.
• Silver Standard Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: SSRI) was trading more than 1.25% higher.