(Kitco News) - Gold futures prices ended solidly lower and near the daily low Thursday. The market extended moderate early losses in late-morning trading as the U.S. dollar index moved higher on the day. Serious near-term chart damage has been inflicted in gold recently. That chart damage has invited fresh speculative selling interest, including the past two days. April gold futures came close to seeing a bearish monthly low close on Thursday. Gold futures prices also posted declines for the fifth straight month as February draws to a close--the first time that has happened since 1997. April Comex gold last traded down $17.10 at $1,578.60 an ounce. Spot gold was last quoted down $17.20 at $1,579.50. May Comex silver last traded down $0.52 at $28.465 an ounce.