&ndasp;NEW YORK, Feb 18 (Reuters)—U.S. gold settled slightly lower on Thursday, in a volatile session marked by investors' growing appetite for bullion, choppy action in the currency markets, and the International Monetary Fund's plan to sell gold to the open market.

GOLD

* COMEX April GCJ0 shed $1.40 to end at $1,118.70 an ounce.

* Range from $1,098.10 to $1,124.60.

* A gloomy view of U.S. economy after mixed economic data, prompted investors to buy gold to hedge against risk—Michael Pento at Delta Global Advisors.

* The dollar rose versus the euro in a volatile session.

* News of gold sales by IMF on Wednesday had driven gold lower earlier on Thursday -- limited impact seen.

* IMF latest sale plan could defy early predictions of strong gold appetite from central banks.

* COMEX estimated final volume at 164,759 contracts

* Spot gold XAU= at $1,120.55 at 2:34 p.m. EST (1934 GMT), compared with $1,106.00 late in New York on Wednesday.

* London gold afternoon fix XAUFIX= at $1,118.

SILVER

* March SIH0 ended down 3.8 cents at $16.06 an ounce.

* Ranged $15.675 to $16.265.

* Spot silver XAG= at $16.11 an ounce, up from Wednesday's late quote ion New York at $15.84.

* Comex estimated final volume at 45,365 contracts.

* London silver XAGFIX= fix at $15.83 an ounce.

PLATINUM

* April PLJ0 sank $17.50 to finish at $1,519.60 an ounce.

* Spot platinum XPT= at $1,525 an ounce.

PALLADIUM

* March palladium PAH0 fell $2.75 to settle at $435.25 an ounce.

* Spot palladium XPD= at $435.50 an ounce.