Precious metals divided Tuesday with prices for silver and platinum rising and those for gold and palladium falling. Silver’s increase was its second in a row.
Gold for February delivery gave back $6.60, or 0.4%, to settle at $1,844.20 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
"Today’s losses in the yellow metal have given the bears some fresh downside momentum to suggest more price pressure in the near term. Likely mitigating selling pressure, however, will be some safe-haven demand due to potential storm clouds on the horizon," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a daily research note.
Gold futures ranged from a low of $1,835.80 to a high of $1,864. They rose 0.8% on Monday.
Silver for March delivery picked up 15.1 cents, or 0.6%, to settle at $25.435 an ounce. Silver futures traded between $25 and $25.75. They surged 2.6% on Monday.
In other precious metals futures Tuesday:
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April platinum jumped $23.20, or 2.2%, to $1,067.80 an ounce, ranging from $1,040 to $1,078.
- Palladium for March delivery slipped $2.60, or 0.1%, to $2,376.20 an ounce, trading between $2,364.50 and $2,402.50.
London Precious Metals Prices (LBMA)
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Monday PM to Tuesday PM:
- Gold declined $6, or 0.3%, to $1,841.25 an ounce.
- Silver gained 50.5 cents, or 2%, to $25.525 an ounce.
US Mint Bullion Sales in 2021
United States Mint bullion sales increased Tuesday by 29,000 ounces in American Silver Eagles and 12,000 ounces in American Gold Eagles.
Below is a sales breakdown of U.S. Mint 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) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Last Week | This Week | December | 2020 Sales | 2021 Sales | |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 12,000 | 43,500 | 24,500 | 48,500 | 747,500 | 68,000 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 17,000 | 0 | 2,000 | 70,000 | 17,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 22,000 | 6,000 | 0 | 106,000 | 28,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 60,000 | 35,000 | 0 | 350,000 | 95,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 20,500 | 6,000 | 10,500 | 242,000 | 26,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 29,000 | 2,800,000 | 1,875,000 | 751,000 | 30,089,500 | 4,675,000 |
| America Samoa 5 oz Silver Coin* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45,000 | 0 |
| Weir Farm 5 oz Silver Coin* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45,000 | 0 |
| Salt River Bay 5 oz Silver Coin* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45,000 | 0 |
| Marsh Billings 5 oz Silver Coin* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45,000 | 0 |
| Tallgrass Prairie 5 oz Silver Coin* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45,000 | 0 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coin* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56,500 | 0 |
