Precious metals futures ended lower Monday as the U.S. dollar climbed against other world currencies.
Gold for April delivery fell $3.50, or 0.3%, to settle at $1,319.90 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
"Waning risk aversion in the market place early this week — evidenced by a solid rally in the U.S. stock market today — worked against the safe-haven metals," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a report. "Also, a firmer U.S. dollar index to start the trading week was a negative element for the metals markets."
Gold futures traded from a low of $1,318.30 to a high of $1,328.90. They shed 0.5% last week.
Silver for May delivery declined 5.4 cents, or 0.3%, to settle at $16.412 an ounce. Silver futures ranged from $16.37 to $16.62. They dipped 0.1% last week.
In other precious metals futures prices:
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April platinum fell $3, or 0.3%, to $962.10 an ounce, trading between $956.90 and $974.10.
- Palladium for June delivery lost $9.15, or 0.9%, to $977.50 an ounce, ranging from $972 to $994.35.
Last week, platinum dropped 3.4% and palladium sank 4.8%.
London Precious Metals Prices
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Friday PM to Monday PM:
- Gold declined $1.90, or 0.1%, to $1,320.40 an ounce.
- Silver added 6.5 cents, or 0.4%, to $16.51 an ounce.
LBMA platinum and palladium prices are available on the LBMA’s website with a delay of midnight.
Last week, LBMA metal prices recorded losses of 0.4% for gold, 1% for silver, 2.2% for platinum and 4.6% for palladium.
US Mint Bullion Sales in 2018
U.S. Mint bullion products logged their first gains in March. The agency’s American Gold Eagles advanced by a combined 3,500 ounces and its American Silver Eagles rose by 165,000 ounces.
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 / March | Last Week | February | 2018 Sales | |
| $100 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coin | 0 | 0 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 2,500 | 0 | 5,000 | 43,500 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 10,000 | 0 | 5,000 | 95,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 500 | 2,500 | 26,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 165,000 | 237,500 | 942,500 | 4,342,500 |
| Pictured Rocks 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
Day before Yesterday: “Precious metals decline”. Yesterday: “Precious metals rise”. Today: “Precious metals decline.” Tomorrow: “Precious metals rise”. Day after Tomorrow: “Precious metals decline”. Ho hum.
Just as I thought; nobody pays attention to this but the futures speculators.
Day by day in the precious metals futures world:
🙁
🙂
🙁
🙂
ad infinitum…
Wait just a minute; isn’t “infinitum” the most precious of metals?
Today diminutum plunged, infinitum skyrocketed, and oblivium went nowhere.