Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange closed lower on Thursday following indications that U.S. economy lost less momentum than expected.

The most active gold contract for April delivery went down 5.10 U.S. dollars, or 0.39 percent, to settle at 1,316.20 dollars per ounce.

A government-shutdown-delayed reading of U.S. Gross Domestic Product showed that the U.S. economy grew 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018. The growth was slower than the third-quarter's 3.4 percent rate, but better than most economists were expecting to see.

The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), another leading indicator of the U.S. economy, rose sharply in February 2019 as new orders registered a double-digit increase.

The index accelerated to 64.7 in February, up 8 points from January's 56.7 and marking the highest since December 2017, the Institute for Supply Management Chicago said on Thursday.

The upbeat economic data supported the U.S. dollar and 10-year U.S. Treasury yields, said analysts, which in turn pressured the safe haven asset gold.

As for other precious metals, silver for May delivery went down 13.2 cents, or 0.84 percent, to close at 15.634 dollars per ounce, while Platinum for April delivery was up 5.30 dollars, or 0.61 percent, to settle at 875.20 dollars per ounce.