Gold prices were higher for a second day Thursday as the U.S. dollar fell following mixed economic reports on jobless, manufacturing and housing data.
Gold for December delivery rose $12.60, or 0.8%, to settle at $1,619.20 an ounce. Gold prices ranged from intraday levels of $1,603.00 to $1,622.00.
"The dollar is weakening, and that always helps," said Frank Lesh, broker and futures analyst with FuturePath Trading in Chicago. MarketWatch adds that Lesh said gold holding to $1,590 an ounce on the downside earlier in the week provided good technical support.
In other news related to the yellow metal, the World Gold Council on Thursday said demand for gold dropped 7.1% in the second quarter to its lowest point since the first quarter of 2010.
"A softness in India and China, who between them represent over 45% of the total second quarter jewellery and investment demand accounts for much of the slowing of global gold demand," said Marcus Grubb, World Gold Council Managing Director of Investment.
In other New York precious metals:
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Silver for December delivery surged 40.0 cents, or 1.4%, to $28.212 an ounce. Silver traded between $27.66 and $28.24.
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Platinum for October delivery advanced $39.00, or 2.8%, to $1,435.20 an ounce, ranging from $1,395.80 to $1,442.80.
- Palladium for September delivery added $5.40, or 0.9%, to $583.45 an ounce, trading between $574.60 and $589.30.
London Precious Metals
Precious metals in London were higher as well. When comparing London PM Fix prices:
- Gold prices edged up $2.75, or 0.2%, to $1,604.50 an ounce,
- Silver climbed 20.0 cents, or 0.7%, to $27.84 an ounce,
- Platinum was unchanged at $1,400.00 an ounce, and
- Palladium advanced $3.00, or 0.5%, to $579.00 an ounce
Sales of U.S. Mint Bullion Coins
Sales of U.S. Mint bullion coins were unchanged Thursday as of 3:51 p.m. ET. The latest daily, August and year-to-date sales for U.S. Mint bullion products follow.
| Sales US Mint American Eagle and Buffalo Bullion Coins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Gains | August Gains | YTD 2012 | |
| $50 American Gold Eagle Coins | 0 | 8,500 | 322,000 |
| $25 American Gold Eagle Coins | 0 | 0 | 56,000 |
| $10 American Gold Eagle Coins | 0 | 0 | 54,000 |
| $5 American Gold Eagle Coins | 0 | 5,000 | 195,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo Gold Coins | 0 | 3,500 | 82,500 |
| American Silver Eagle Coins | 0 | 1,390,000 | 21,060,000 |
| Sales of America the Beautiful 5 Oz. Silver Bullion Coins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Gains | August Gains | All-Time Total | |
| 2012 El Yunque National Forest 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 400 | 13,600 |
| 2012 Chaco Culture National Historical Park 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 400 | 7,800 |
| 2012 Acadia National Park 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 1,100 | 11,000 |
| 2011 Olympic National Park 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 0 | 85,500 |
| 2011 Vicksburg National Military Park 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 0 | 39,100 |
| 2011 Chickasaw Park 5 oz. Silver Coins | 0 | 0 | 29,400 |
| TOTAL | 0 | 1,900 | 186,400 |
Above U.S. Mint bullion sales are in coin totals, not in amount of ounces sold.
