Precious metals declined on Monday. Palladium led losses with a more than $19 drop while gold, silver and platinum registered only modest declines.
Gold for April delivery fell $3.20, or 0.2%, to settle at $1,320.80 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
"Keener risk appetite in the world marketplace at present is keeping the buyers of the safe-metals squelched," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a report. "A weaker U.S. dollar index today did allow gold and silver to move off of their daily lows that were scored in early dealings."
Gold futures traded from a low of $1,315.30 to a high of $1,325. They rose 60 cents last week.
Silver for May delivery lost 7.2 cents, or 0.4%, to close at $16.536 an ounce. Silver futures ranged from $16.43 to $16.64. They rose 0.9% last week.
In other precious metals futures prices on Monday:
-
April platinum dipped $1.30, or 0.1%, to $962.90 an ounce, trading between $958.10 and $968.70.
- Palladium for June delivery dropped $19.20, or 2%, to $967.65 an ounce, ranging from $966 to $992.10.
Last week, platinum fell less than 0.1% and palladium gained less than 0.1%.
London Precious Metals Prices
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Friday PM to Monday PM:
- Gold declined $1.45, or 0.1%, to $1,319.15 an ounce.
- Silver fell 3 cents, or 0.2, to $16.455 an ounce.
LBMA platinum and palladium prices are available on the LBMA’s website with a delay of midnight.
Last week, LBMA metal prices were mixed with silver rising 0.2% and the others recording losses of 0.1% for gold, 2% for platinum, and 0.9% for palladium.
US Mint Bullion Sales in 2018
U.S. Mint bullion sales advanced by 125,000 ounces in American Silver Eagles. Below is a sales breakdown of U.S. Mint bullion products with columns listing the number of coins sold during varying periods.
| US Mint Bullion Sales (# of coins) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Last Week | February | March | 2018 Sales | |
| $100 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coin | 0 | 0 | 20,000 | 0 | 20,000 |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 2,500 | 5,000 | 2,500 | 43,500 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 10,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 95,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 1,000 | 2,500 | 1,000 | 27,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 125,000 | 165,000 | 942,500 | 290,000 | 4,467,500 |
| Pictured Rocks 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 20,000 | 0 | 20,000 |
As they round the final turn, it appears that Platinum is slowly gaining on Palladium. Silver has as usual been lapped by the rest of the field and is out of the running. The perennial frontrunner Gold, maintaining its customary lead, is easily the first to sprint across the finish line!
Great race call. Superfecta!
T
T,
Many thanks for the kind words. Next, it’s off to March Madness!
Old Collector & Odds Prospector
Dismal sale$ #s……
Chas Barber,
Dismal = Just like the weather this (endless) winter. 🙂
Old Collector