Gold and silver futures rose again Thursday, posting their fifth straight gains and their eighth set of wins in nine sessions. They each settled at fresh three-week highs, supported be a weaker U.S. dollar.
Gold for August delivery climbed $3.50, or 0.3%, to end at $1,245.50 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The settlement is the highest since June 29.
"It is the dollar factor which is having an influence on the gold price," Reuters quoted ThinkMarkets chief market analyst Naeem Aslam.
Gold futures ranged from a low of $1,243.90 to a high of $1,247.20. They edged up 0.008% in the previous session, gained 0.7% on Tuesday and climbed 0.5% in their start to the week on Monday.
Silver for September delivery added 4.8 cents, or 0.3%, to finish at $16.345 an ounce. The settlement is the highest since June 30. Silver futures traded between $16.11 and $16.40. They rose 0.2% on Wednesday, moved up 1.1% on Tuesday and gained 1% on Monday.
In rounding out precious metals dealings:
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October platinum added $9, or 1%, to $933.20 an ounce, ranging from $915.50 to $934.50.
- Closing lower for a third day in a row, palladium for September declined $11.55, or 1.3%, to $847.60 an ounce. Prices traded between $833.55 and $857.90.
London Precious Metals Prices
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Wednesday PM to Thursday PM:
- Gold slipped $3.45, or 0.3%, to 1,238.70 an ounce.
- Silver dipped 5 cents, or 0.3%, to $16.18 an ounce.
LBMA platinum and palladium prices are available on the LBMA’s website with a delay of midnight.
US Mint Bullion Sales in 2017
U.S. Mint bullion sales logged increases of 2,000 ounces in American Gold Eagles and 140,000 ounces in American Silver Eagles. Below is a sales breakdown of U.S. bullion products with columns listing the number of coins sold during varying periods. Products with an asterisk (*) are no longer available.
| US Mint Bullion Sales (# of coins) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Last Week | This Week | June | July | YTD | |
| $100 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,000 |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 2,000 | 5,500 | 5,000 | 4,000 | 12,000 | 153,000 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,000 | 52,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 10,000 | 5,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 290,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 1,500 | 500 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 69,000 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 140,000 | 970,000 | 725,000 | 986,000 | 2,015,000 | 14,248,500 |
| 2017 Effigy Mounds 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8,800 | 0 | 35,000 |
| 2017 Frederick Douglass 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,000 |
| 2017 Ozark Riverways 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,000 | 0 | 20,000 |
