Bullion prices ended lower at Comex on Thursday, 14 March 2019. Gold futures pulled back below the $1,300-an-ounce level on Thursday, giving up their highest levels of the month, as the U.S. dollar regained its footing and investors appeared to shrug off political turmoil in the U.K. surrounding the country's preparations for exiting from the European Union.

Gold for April delivery on Comex fell $14.20, or 1.1%, to settle at $1,295.10 an ounce. May silver dropped 28.5 cents, or 1.8%, to $15.171 an ounce.

On Thursday, the U.S. dollar was stronger versus most major rivals, with the ICE U.S. Dollar Index, a measure of the currency against six major rivals, up 0.2%. A stronger dollar can weigh on commodities priced in the unit because it makes them more expensive to users of other currencies.

Gold maintained losses after data Thursday showed first-time applications for unemployment benefits rose last week to a one-month high, though the level of layoffs in the U.S. remained extremely low.

Separately, data showed the cost of imported goods rose 0.6% in February, though the rise was driven largely by a 5% rise in the cost of oil, natural gas and other energy costs. Excluding fuel, import prices were unchanged. Sales of new U.S. homes dropped almost 7% in January to a 607,000 annual rate.