Gold prices struggle to recover after rough week.

Gold prices are slightly up and silver slightly lower in early US trading, after both markets hit three-month lows overnight. The precious metals bulls are still suffering the bearish effects of central bankers that this week kept the hammer down on tight monetary policies that will likely squelch global demand for metals and keep government bond yields elevated. The US dollar index is solidly higher, and Nymex crude oil prices are lower, both in a bearish daily posture for the metals markets.