Most precious metals futures declined Monday in their kick off to the new trading week, month and quarter.
Gold for December delivery declined $4.50, or 0.4%, to settle at $1,191.70 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
"Keener risk appetite is in the marketplace to start the trading week has the precious metals under pressure, as does a firmer U.S. dollar index today," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a report. "It’s very likely going to take a geopolitical shock to the marketplace to jumpstart a decent rally in the safe-haven gold market."
Gold futures ranged from a low of $1,188.10 to a high of $1,196.50. They closed the third quarter on Friday with a sharp 4.7% loss and finished 0.9% lower in September.
Meanwhile, silver for December delivery lost 20.5 cents, or 1.4%, to settle at $14.507 an ounce. Silver futures traded between $14.39 and $14.73. In closing Friday, they gained 1.1% in September but sank 9.2% in the third quarter.
In other precious metals futures prices on Monday:
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January platinum rose $5.50, or 0.7%, to $827.90 an ounce, ranging from $811.40 to $828.40.
- Palladium for December delivery declined $16.40, or 1.5%, to $1,056.40 an ounce, trading between $1,037 and $1,066.40. an ounce. On Friday, it logged its best close since Jan. 29.
London Precious Metals Prices
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Friday PM to Monday PM:
- Gold added $2.10, or 0.2%, to 1,189.35 an ounce.
- Silver rose 24.5 cents, or 1.7%, to $14.55 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 products increased by a combined 2,500 ounces in American Eagle and Buffalo gold coins and by 350,000 ounces in American Silver Eagles.
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 / Week / Oct. | Last Week | August | September | 2018 Sales | |
| $100 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 1,500 | 3,500 | 17,500 | 14,500 | 152,500 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 2,000 | 24,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 58,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 5,000 | 0 | 10,000 | 40,000 | 205,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 500 | 4,500 | 20,000 | 11,000 | 108,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 350,000 | 935,000 | 1,530,000 | 2,897,500 | 12,485,000 |
| Pictured Rocks 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 |
| Apostle Islands 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 |
| Voyageurs 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 |
| Cumberland Island 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | N/A | 52,500 | 52,500 |
Fair warning to anyone thinking about opening an account at the US Mint. Once you open an account it cannot be deactivated or deleted, EVER!