MW: Gold futures down 1.9% after U.S. jobless claims
By Nick Godt
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Gold futures were under heavy selling pressure early Thursday and fell further after after the U.S. government reported an unexpected jump in jobless claims. Gold for February delivery was down $21.80, or 1.9%, at $1,114.40 an ounce. The government said initial jobless claims last week rose by 7,000 to stand at 480,000. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch on average expected a drop to 465,000.
