Gold prices decreasing on Wednesday against the U.S. currency appreciation associated with the statistics on an index of business activity in the industry in the euro area in April, as well as data on unemployment in the region in March.

The index of business activity in the field of industrial production for the 17 eurozone countries (PMI), calculated by Markit Economics, on the final assessment, declined in April 2012 by 1.8 index points from March and up 45.9 points. Thus, the data were worse than analysts' forecasts, expected a decline to 46 index points from 47.7 points in March.

The unemployment rate in the 17 eurozone countries in March in monthly terms increased by 0.1 percentage points, to a new record high of 10.9%. Published data coincided with the forecasts of analysts.

Released in the U.S. statistics on the number of jobs in private companies in the USA in April was worse than analysts' forecasts. Thus, the level of employment in the private sector in April rose by 119 thousand against 201 thousand to the revised March figure, which is now in its report said office ADP. Experts interviewed on the eve of the release, expected to figure at 170 thousand

The cost of the June gold futures on the COMEX fell today to $ 1646.0 an ounce.