(Kitco News) - Gold prices ended the U.S. day session sharply lower and gave back all of Thursday’s solid gains. The selling pressure Thursday could not be attributed to any major, single fundamental factor. However, it’s likely some end-of-the-month position squaring, profit taking from short-term traders, and pre-jobs-report positioning were responsible for the losses in the gold and silver markets Thursday. April gold last traded down $17.80 at $1,663.90 an ounce. Spot gold was last quoted down $13.20 at $1,663.75. March Comex silver last traded down $0.757 at $31.42 an ounce.