Gold prices slide for 3rd straight week

(AP) Gold prices are sliding for their third week running, as traders speculate that the Federal Reserve will ease off its stimulus program for the economy.

Gold for April delivery fell $5.80 Friday to settle at $1,572.80 an ounce. The price of gold dropped below $1,600 on Wednesday for the first time since August. The drop came after minutes from the Fed's last meeting revealed that some Fed officials discussed ending its bond-buying program sooner than planned.

Prices for other metals were mostly lower. Silver for May fell 24.1 cents to $28.52 an ounce. Platinum for April fell $12.60 to settle at $1,607.40. Copper for May fell 1.9 cents to $3.5505 per pound.

Palladium was the exception. Contracts for March edged up $1.70 to $735.30 an ounce.

Grain prices were mixed.