Randgold (GOLD) (HMY) (GRS) (ANV) (AUY) (GSS) Close Up on Higher Gold Prices

Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY), Randgold (NASDAQ:GOLD), Gammon Gold (NYSE:GRS), Allied Nevada Gold (AMEX:ANV), Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY) and Golden Star Resources (AMEX:GSS) end higher as gold futures settled up.

Gold futures for August delivery roe $4 to $1,547.70 an ounce. Silver prices were also up, settling at $37.32 an ounce, gaining 2 percent.

The job market in the U.S. was also weak, as the number of people applying for unemployment benefits for the first time climbed to 427,000 last week. Economists had expected the number to fall to 419,000. The number applying for jobless benefits jumped from the prior week too, being upwardly revised from 422,000 to 426,000.

Gold was also stronger on the decision by the European Central Bank to keep its interest rate at the same level. It did give a nod toward raising interest rates in July.

The European Central Bank kept its key interest rate at 1.25 percent. The Bank of England left its main interest rate unchanged at 0.50 percent, a record low.

Golden Star Resources closed Thursday at $2.51, gaining $0.13, or 5.46 percent. Yamana Gold ended the day at $11.90, up $0.14, or 1.19 percent. Allied Nevada Gold closed at $31.62, jumping $0.09, or 0.29 percent. Gammon Gold ended the session at $9.51, climbing $0.54, or 6.02 percent. Randgold closed at $80.08, rising $3.04, or 3.95 percent. Harmony Gold Mining closed at $13.21, increasing $13.21, up $0.24, or 1.85 percent.

Ex-Dividend for (APC) (GES) (KSS) (LUV) (PDLI) (AEE) is June 6

The ex-dividend date for Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE) Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:APC), Guess (NYSE:GES), Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) and PDL BioPharma Inc. (NASDAQ:PDLI) is June 6.

Ameren Corporation pays a dividend of $0.39 with a yield of 5.22 percent.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. pays a dividend of $0.09 with a yield of 0.47 percent.

Guess Inc. pays a dividend of $0.20 with a yield of 2.00 percent.

Kohl's Corporation pays a dividend of $0.25 with a yield of 1.84 percent.

Southwest Airlines Company pays a dividend of $0.02 with a yield of 0.20 percent.

PDL BioPharma Inc. pays a dividend of $0.15 with a yield of 9.27 percent.

BP (BP) (RDS-A) (JKS) (LDK) (LECO) Get Ratings, Price Target Changes

Ratings and/or price targets on shares of BP (NYSE:BP), Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A), JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS), LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK) and Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: LECO) were initiated or changed by analysts.

RBC Capital initiated coverage on BP (BP), starting them off with an "Outperform" rating.

Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) was initiated with a "Top Pick" rating at RBC Capital Markets.

Collins Stewart cut their price target on JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (JKS) from $38.00 to $34.50. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Kaufman Brothers downgraded LDK Solar (LDK) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $8.00 on the company, down from $24.00.

Longbow Research upgraded Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc (LECO) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $92.00 on the company.