Gold futures lifted their winning sessions to five in row Wednesday, and settled a new, more than four-month high.
Gold for February delivery rose $2.10, or 0.2%, to end at $1,339.20 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The settlement was again the highest since Sept. 8 when prices finished at $1,351.20 an ounce.
"Some minor profit-taking early saw gold traders then step in to buy the dip when the U.S. dollar index could not hold its early gains and dropped to a 3.5-year low," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a daily report.
Gold futures traded between $1,326.60 and $1,344.50. They also climbed 0.2% in their start to the trading week on Tuesday.
Silver for March delivery shed 2.3 cents, or 0.1%, to settle at $17.166 an ounce. Silver futures ranged from $16.98 to $17.31. They ended 0.3% higher on Tuesday.
In PGM futures on Wednesday:
-
April platinum gained $6, or 0.6%, to $1,010.90 an ounce, trading between $1,002.20 and $1,012.90.
- Palladium for March delivery tacked on $21.55, or 2%, to $1,109.70 an ounce, ranging from $1,089.20 to $1,113.95. The close was a new all-time high.
Last week, the two metals each advanced 2.2%.
London Precious Metals Prices
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Tuesday PM to Wednesday PM:
- Gold added $1.80, or 0.1%, to $1,335.65 an ounce.
- Silver added 11.5 cents, or 0.7%, to $17.21 an ounce.
LBMA platinum and palladium prices are available on the LBMA’s website with a delay of midnight
US Mint Bullion Sales in 2018
United States Mint bullion sales were unchanged Wednesday. Below is a sales breakdown of U.S. bullion products with columns listing the number of coins sold during varying periods.
| US Mint Bullion Sales (# of coins) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | Last Week | This Week | December | 2017 Sales | 2018 Sales | |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 27,000 | 2,500 | 38,000 | 228,500 | 29,500 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 12,000 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 37,000 | 14,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 24,000 | 0 | 4,000 | 64,000 | 24,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 60,000 | 5,000 | 25,000 | 395,000 | 65,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 18,500 | 2,000 | 14,000 | 99,500 | 20,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 2,520,000 | 250,000 | 742,000 | 18,065,500 | 2,770,000 |
