Gold down more than $15 in early afternoon trade

Prices for precious metals were much lower on Thursday. June gold was down $15.50 in early afternoon trade in New York to $667 per troy ounce, having traded in a range between $665.80 and $679.50 during the session so far.

July silver dropped 33 cents to $13.14 per troy ounce after it traded between $13.12 and $13.41 before noon. Platinum July contracts fell $15.30 to $15.30 per troy ounce. It had traded in a range between $1,322 to $1.336.80 earlier.

Among base metals, copper was 11 cents cheaper to $3.57 per pound after trading in a range between $3.56 and $3.63 per pound.