Gold and silver prices are modestlylower in early-afternoon U.S. trading Wednesday. Both markets are this weekseeing normal and healthy corrective pullbacks from recent gains that pushedprices to multi-month highs. A rebound in the U.S. dollarindex this week is also a negative for the precious metals markets. April goldfutures were last down $2.90 an ounce at $1,316.20. March Comexsilver was last down $0.096 at $15.74 an ounce.

Precious metals traders are looking for a newfundamental spark to ignite their markets. However, with Chinese markets andsome other Asian markets closed this week for the Lunar New Year holiday, it’smaking for some subdued trading in world markets so far this week.