Gold futures declined Friday to a more than five-month low, extending their losing streak to five straight sessions and marking their largest weekly decline in nearly three and a half years.
Gold for December delivery lost $42.10, or 3.3%, to finish at $1,224.30 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The settlement is the lowest since June 2 when the yellow metal ended at $1,212.60 an ounce.
"Gold, a noninterest-bearing and dollar-denominated asset, has basically been THE victim of a sharp rise in both the dollar and equity prices, which have responded surprisingly positively to the outcome of U.S. elections," MarketWatch quoted Fawad Razaqzada, technical analyst at Forex.com.
Gold futures plunged 6.2% this week, their biggest weekly decline since the one ended June 21, 2013, following four straight weeks of gains that had lifted prices by 4.2%. They are still 15.5% higher on the year to date.
In looking ahead to next week, Kitco News offers the following forecasts via their Wall Street vs. Main Street survey:
"Eighteen market professionals took part in the Wall Street survey. Nine participants, or 50%, look for gold to be higher next week. Eight, or 44%, called for lower, while one, or 6%, sees sideways prices ahead.
Meanwhile, 803 Main Street participants submitted votes in an online survey. A total of 414 respondents, or 52%, said they were bullish for the week ahead, while 292, or 36%, were bearish. The neutral votes totaled 97, or 12%."
Snapping a three-session winning streak, silver for December delivery sank $1.36, or 7.2%, to settle at $17.382 an ounce. Silver’s close is the weakest since Oct. 8, and comes just one day after the white metal hit its highest price in more than five weeks (since Oct. 3).
Silver futures dropped 5.4% this week, their first weekly loss in five weeks, but they are 26% higher since their ending settlement in 2015 at $16.803 an ounce.
In PGM futures on Friday and for the week:
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January platinum fell $39, or 4%, to $943.20 an ounce, for a 6.1% weekly loss.
- Palladium for December delivery fell $11.80, or 1.7%, to $684.70 an ounce, paring its gain on the week to 9.6%.
Both metals are higher year to date with increases totaling 5.6% for platinum and 21.8% for palladium.
London Precious Metals Prices
London precious metals prices moved lower on Friday and were mixed on the week. First, in comparing their levels from Friday PM to Monday PM:
- Gold fell $31.05, or 2.5%, to $1,236.45 an ounce.
- Silver declined 16 cents, or 0.9%, to $18.59 an ounce.
- Platinum fell $10, or 1%, to $974 an ounce.
- Palladium declined $5, or 0.7%, to $685 an ounce.
The weekly losers included gold by 5.1%; silver by 1.6%; and platinum by 2.9%. Conversely, London palladium prices jumped 9.6%, matching palladium futures.
US Mint Bullion Coin Sales in 2016
U.S. Mint bullion sales were mixed — slower for gold coins and quicker for silver coins. In week-over-week comparisons:
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Gold coins advanced 27,500 ounces after gaining 34,500 ounces previously. This week’s splits include 23,500 ounces in American Gold Eagles compared to 27,000 ounces previously and 4,000 ounces in American Gold Buffalo compared to 7,500 ounces previously.
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Silver coin sales advanced 425,000 ounces after rising 371,500 ounces previously. This week’s sales came entirely from American Silver Eagles compared to last week when gains included 370,000 ounces in American Silver Eagles and 1,500 ounces in America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins.
Below is a sales breakdown of U.S. Mint bullion coins with columns listing the number of bullion coins sold during varying periods Products with an asterisk (*) are no longer available.
| US Mint Bullion Sales (# of coins) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Sales | Last Week | This Week | Oct Sales | Nov Sales | 2016 Sales | |
| $100 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coins* | – | 20,000 | ||||
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 23,000 | 19,000 | 100,500 | 35,500 | 701,000 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 4,000 | 1,000 | 8,000 | 4,000 | 68,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 4,000 | 6,000 | 16,000 | 10,000 | 142,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 10,000 | 25,000 | 75,000 | 30,000 | 805,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 7,500 | 4,000 | 28,500 | 8,500 | 186,000 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coins | 0 | 370,000 | 425,000 | 3,825,000 | 645,000 | 35,045,500 |
| 2016 Shawnee 5 Oz Silver Coins* | – | 105,000 | ||||
| 2016 Cumberland Gap 5 Oz Silver Coins* | – | 75,000 | ||||
| 2016 Harpers Ferry 5 Oz Silver Coins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 36,500 |
| 2016 Theodore Roosevelt 5 Oz Silver Coins | 0 | 300 | 0 | 3,100 | 300 | 32,900 |
Right now on HSN tv shopping channel live coin show, the numismatic Devil Mike Mezack is offering the gold WL half dollars pre-sale graded SP-70 by ANACS at $1799.95 plus S&H plus your state sales tax! LOL. He says he only has 178 coins. Sad ripoff!
-NumisDudeTX
178 SP-70’s lol I have never been nor will I ever be a fan of grading modern numismatic coins. To me, when a modern proof numismatic coin sells over 100,000 pieces it is nothing more than a fancy bullion coin. Paying a high premium over spot is not a solid investment at all. I feel sad for those who prey on the inexperience of novice coin collectors.
Mouse
Mouse –
I agree totally! I don’t see how ripoff dealers like Mezack sleep at night. Beginning collectors are definitely being taken advantage of on his HSN & CSN tv coin shopping shows. Very sad situation indeed. Do you have ripoff coin dealers like this on tv in Canada?
Happy collecting Mouse!
-NumisDudeTX
Hi Seth, We do have a monthly coin program on the Canadian shopping channel. They display the latest RCM releases. The show sells for the same price as the RCM and has a vast selection. The show is educational in nature and is designed for the novice as well as the experienced. They are trying to showcase and spark people to start collecting. The only rip off commercials we get are out of the states and they prey on inexperienced coin collectors. I am all about having the ability to profit off of bullion and numismatic coins, but people who… Read more »
Seth – you can see from the chart above, what you and I recently discussed:
note that as the price of Gold dropped, sales of the more expensive PM’s – Gold 1-oz. (Buttalo & American Eagle), and 1/2-oz. gold coins also fell.
Wait until PM prices tick back up, and you will notice the sales increase as well.
When it comes to investing in bullion, one would like to think, buy low sell high. Not necessarily. Consistent and strategic buying practices to off set capital gains loss is the ticket.
Mouse