In trading action Monday, gold declined while silver, platinum and palladium soared to log respective gains of 2.3%, 6.4%, and 9.1%.
Gold for June delivery declined $21.90 or 1.3%, to settle at $1,734.40 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
"Technically, June gold futures scored a bearish ‘outside day’ down on the daily bar chart today. The bulls still have the solid overall near-term technical advantage," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a daily research note. "Gold bulls’ next upside near-term price objective is to produce a close above solid technical resistance at the April high of $1,788.80. Bears’ next near-term downside price objective is pushing prices below solid technical support at $1,666.20."
Gold futures ranged from a low of $1,729.30 to a high of $1,775.80. They gained 2.5% last week, ending Friday at their best level since April 14.
Silver for July delivery advanced 39.8 cents to close at $17.468 an ounce. The close was the highest since Feb. 27 when silver finished at $17.735 an ounce. Silver futures traded between $17.12 and $17.99. They soared 8.2% last week.
In other precious metals futures prices on Monday:
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July platinum rallied $52.20 to $869.30 an ounce, ranging from $822.70 to $877.
- Palladium for June delivery surged $169.20 to $2,027.10 an ounce, trading between $1,864.90 and $2,070.
Last week, platinum rose 3.5% and palladium gained 2%.
London Precious Metals Prices (LBMA)
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Friday PM to Monday PM:
- Gold dipped 65 cents, or 0.04%, to $1,734.70 an ounce.
- Silver soared $1.10, or 6.8, to $17.35 an ounce.
In LBMA results last week, prices increased 1.8% for gold, 8.5% for silver, 1.3% for platinum, and 1.7% for palladium.
US Mint Bullion Sales in 2020
United States Mint bullion sales were unchanged Monday, according to published Mint data. 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 | Last Week | April | May | 2020 Sales | |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 105,000 | 2,000 | 281,500 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,000 | 38,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10,000 | 50,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 175,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 28,500 | 0 | 116,000 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 750,000 | 0 | 10,728,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coin | 0 | 0 | 1,500 | 0 | 56,500 |
In terms of 5-ounce silver bullion sales for 2020, the U.S. Mint is working on getting them automated and reported. Initial U.S. Mint-provided figures have the first two 2020-dated pieces at 45,000 produced and sold per issue. These amounts are being verified.
