US gold futures ended lower at around $1,100 an ounce on Thursday, hitting their lowest level this year, as US President Barack Obama's proposals to limit banks' risk taking dampened investor sentiment across the board. Gold for February delivery settles down $9.40 at $1,103.20 an ounce on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Ranged $1,117.40 to $1,088, the lowest since December 30.

GOLD: Gold under pressure after the Obama administration proposed stricter limits on financial risk-taking on Thursday in a move that sent bank shares and Wall Street tumbling. Gold/oil ratio 14.44 against previous session's 14.41. COMEX estimated final volume at a heavy 277,582 lots. Spot gold at $1,098.40 an ounce at 2:45 pm EST (1945 GMT), against the previous session's late quote of $1,111.10.

SILVER: March silver ends down 37 cents, or 2.1 percent, at $17.510 an ounce, down with gold and other industrial metals. Ranged from $18.065 to $17.340, a two-week low. COMEX estimated final volume at 51,228 lots. Spot silver at $17.44 an ounce, versus the previous session's late quote of $17.87.

PLATINUM: NYMEX April platinum finishes down $25.50, or 1.6 percent, at $1,592.10 an ounce on follow-through selling after investment-driven rallies related to US exchange traded funds. Spot platinum was at $1,588 an ounce.

PALLADIUM: March palladium closes down $8.10, or 1.8 percent, at $453.95 an ounce, tracking broad-based precious metals weakness - traders.

Copyright Reuters, 2010