News) - Gold and silver prices are trading lower in early U.S. trading Thursday, as some normal chart consolidation is occurring following recent strong gains that last week pushed gold prices to a 7.5-year high and silver to a four-week high. Gold and silver bulls still have the near-term technical advantage to continue to suggest the path of least resistance for prices will be sideways to higher. June gold futures were last down $6.70 an ounce at $1,746.20. May Comex silver prices were last down $0.273 at $15.78 an ounce.