Gold edged lower for a second session Tuesday as gloomy euro zone economic factors propped the U.S. dollar which pressured gold and other precious metals prices.
Gold prices for August delivery shed $1.20, or 0.1%, to settle at $1,576.20 an ounce on the Comex in New York. Gold bracketed intraday prices of $1,567.80 and $1,584.00.
"Gold is mostly taking its cues from the euro-dollar. Volume is pretty decent, suggesting there are good underlying bids here," Reuters quoted Jonathan Jossen, an independent COMEX gold options floor trader.
In other major New York precious metals futures:
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Silver prices for September delivery closed at $26.811 an ounce, falling 23.1 cents or 0.9%. Silver traded between an intraday low of $26.575 and a high of $27.145.
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Platinum prices for October delivery declined $12.30, or 0.9%, to $1,386.60 an ounce, ranging from $1,378.50 to $1,406.00.
- Palladium prices for September delivery fell $9.35, or 1.6%, to $561.60 an ounce, moving between $555.90 and $574.70.
London Precious Metals
Earlier fixed London precious metals were mixed on the day. When comparing the London PM Fix prices:
- Gold gained $11.00, or 0.7%, to $1,583.25 an ounce,
- Silver dipped 2.0 cents, or 0.1%, to $26.93 an ounce,
- Platinum added $2.00, or 0.1%, to $1,395.00 an ounce, and
- Palladium advanced $4.00, or 0.7%, to $569.00 an ounce
U.S. Mint Bullion Coin Sales
Making a lone ascent among U.S. bullion coins were one ounce American Gold Eagles. Rising 1,000 for a second straight day, the two-day total doubles U.S. Mint gold bullion sales from last week.
The following are the latest daily, July and year-to-date bullion coin sales totals as published by the U.S. Mint.
| US Mint American Eagle and Buffalo Bullion Coin Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Gains | July Gains | YTD 2012 | |
| $50 American Gold Eagle Coins | 1,000 | 19,000 | 304,000 |
| $25 American Gold Eagle Coins | 0 | 0 | 56,000 |
| $10 American Gold Eagle Coins | 0 | 2,000 | 54,000 |
| $5 American Gold Eagle Coins | 0 | 0 | 175,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo Gold Coins | 0 | 1,500 | 76,500 |
| American Eagle Silver Coins | 0 | 1,468,000 | 18,860,000 |
| America the Beautiful 5 Oz. Bullion Silver Coin Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Gains | July Gains | All-Time Total | |
| 2012 El Yunque National Forest 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 1,700 | 11,600 |
| 2012 Chaco Culture National Historical Park 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 2,700 | 5,900 |
| 2011 Olympic National Park 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 100 | 85,300 |
| 2011 Vicksburg National Military Park 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 200 | 38,800 |
| 2011 Chickasaw Park 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 200 | 31,100 |
| TOTAL | 0 | 4,900 | 170,700 |
The above U.S. Mint bullion coin sales are in coin totals, not the amount of ounces sold.
