Precious metals settled higher for the first time in three sessions Wednesday, although gains were mostly modest. Silver and gold performed the best, each rising 0.7%.
Rebounding from its lowest close of the month, gold for June delivery added $8.70 to settle at $1,201.30 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The yellow metal traded between $1,188.30 and $1,202.90.
"Gold prices ended the U.S. trading session modestly higher Wednesday. Some weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data released Wednesday morning prompted some short-covering and bargain-hunting buying interest in gold," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a report. "Also, the U.S. dollar index backed down from its overnight high following the disappointing batch of U.S. data."
Silver for May delivery tacked on 12 cents to close at $16.28 an ounce. Prices ranged from $16.05 to $16.34.
Elsewhere in precious metals trading:
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July platinum edged up $2.90, or 0.3%, to $1,156.60 an ounce, trading between $1,147 and $1,165.
- Palladium for June delivery gained $4.60, or 0.6%, to $767.10 an ounce, ranging from $758.55 to $775.
London Precious Metals Prices
Earlier fixed London precious metals also changed slightly. In comparing London bullion prices from Tuesday PM to Wednesday PM:
- Gold slipped $1.85, or 0.2%, to $1,192.90 an ounce,
- Silver rose a dime, or 0.6%, to $16.18 an ounce,
- Platinum gained $1, or 0.1%, to $1,148 an ounce, and
- Palladium added $3, or 0.4%, to $763 an ounce.
US Mint Bullion Coin Sales in April
United States Mint bullion sales were unchanged as of 2:40 PM ET. This listing of U.S. Mint bullion products show the number of coins sold during varying periods. Products with an asterisk (*) are no longer available.
| US Mint Bullion Sales (# of coins) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Sales | Last Week | Current Week | March Sales | April Sales | YTD Sales | |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 1,500 | 5,000 | 35,000 | 6,500 | 105,500 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 1,000 | 0 | 5,000 | 2,000 | 27,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 2,000 | 0 | 8,000 | 2,000 | 46,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 70,000 | 20,000 | 255,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 2,500 | 1,500 | 9,500 | 5,500 | 61,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coins | 0 | 771,000 | 575,500 | 3,519,000 | 1,418,500 | 13,489,500 |
| 2015 Homestead 5 Oz Silver Coins* | – | 15,000 | – | 35,000 | ||
