Gold and silver futures prices are weaker in midday U.S. trading Thursday, on some profit-taking pressure from the shorter-term futures traders following recent gains. The precious metals had been supported this week by friendly daily outside markets that included higher crude oil prices, a weaker U.S. dollar index and a slight drop in U.S. Treasury yields. February gold futures were last down $8.30 at $1,819.00 and March Comex silver was last down $0.062 at $23.15 an ounce. The U.S. got another key inflation report today. The December producer price index rose by 0.2% from November. The December PPI was expected to ... (full story)