CHICAGO, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange ended slightly higher on Wednesday after the Labor Department reported consumer price index (CPI) dropped 0.1 percent. Silver and platinum went higher, too.

    Gold price for June delivery gained 1.50 U.S. dollars, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 893.50 dollars an ounce, retreating from the intraday peak of 902.10 dollars early in the session.

    CPI fell a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent in March, in line with economists' expectations. This came after the producer price index (PPI) was reported to fall 1.2 percent last month on Tuesday.

    Both indicate the inflation risk is fading and gold's appeal as assets against rising price is reducing. But light short covering helped the precious metal to finish higher as the CPI data failed to provoke a sustained decline, said analysts.

    After Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs posted bullish profit anticipations, the focus continues to be on bank earnings and the results of the government's "stress test," or evaluations on the health of 19 big banks.

    According to the Federal Reserve's Beige Book report released on Wednesday, U.S. economic activity has contracted further or remained weak, and five of the 12 Fed districts noted a moderation in the pace of decline.

    May silver finished at 12.80 dollars per ounce, up 3.5 cents. July platinum climbed 6.70 dollars to 1,225 dollars per ounce.