U.S. manufacturing, services PMIs fall

U.S. stock indices closed largely lower on Thursday after House Republican suddenly postponed the voting on a crucial healthcare law due to lack of support, stoking concerns about president Donald Trump's ability to to achieve his legislative agenda alongside Republicans, including tax cuts for corporations and relaxing banking regulations, which contributed recently to a big rally in the markets to record highs.

Natural gas futures rose nearly one percent in American trade, shrugging off the dollar's modest rise, which follows a spate of data from the U.S., the world's largest energy consumer, including the EIA inventory report that showed a forecast-beating drawdown last week.

Silver prices rose on Thursday, on track for the second weekly profit in a row as the dollar hovers near a seven-week trough, while demand rose on safe havens as shown in gold's advance.