Following news Thursday of a bigger-than-expected dip in U.S. jobs and an unemployment rate increase to 9.5 percent, gold fell toward $930 an ounce, oil plunged to a one-month low and U.S. stocks tumbled.

In New York trading futures for bullion:

• Silver for September delivery declined 35.2 cents, or 2.6 percent, to 13.408 an ounce.

• Gold for August delivery fell $10.30, or 1.1 percent, to $931.00 an ounce.

• October platinum lost $11.80, or 1.0 percent, to $1,193.30 an ounce.

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Gold cruised forward Wednesday for its biggest gain of the week, and halted a two-day slide. A weakened U.S. dollar was a cited catalyst for the yellow metal’s climb. Silver and platinum advanced as well. In other markets, oil prices fell following data showing higher crude inventories. U.S. stocks rose modestly.

In New York trading futures for bullion:

• Silver for July delivery gained 16.6 cents, or 1.2 percent, to 13.74 an ounce.

• Gold for August delivery jumped $13.90, or 1.5 percent, to $941.30 an ounce.

• October platinum rose $19.80, or 1.7 percent, to $1,205.10 an ounce.

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Demand is lower for bullion coins? Poppycock. US Mint sales figures released Wednesday say otherwise.

Marking the third best month of a record setting pace year, demand in June for American Eagle Gold and Silver Bullion Coins jumped aggressively over May.

Silver eagle sales soared in June, rising 340,500 higher than May figures. 2,245,000 silver bullion eagles were sold. The total is now 13,824,500 for an annualized rate that is easily on track to smash last year’s 20,583,000 record. Read the rest of this entry »

A stronger U.S. dollar, retreating oil prices, and weakened consumer confidence and home price data weighed heavily on gold. Silver and platinum declined as well while U.S. stocks dipped lower.

In New York trading futures for bullion:

• Silver for July delivery dropped 37.3 cents, or 2.7 percent, to 13.574 an ounce.

• Gold for August delivery fell $13.30, or 1.4 percent, to $927.40 an ounce.

• July platinum declined $7.50, or 0.6 percent, to $1,176.70 an ounce.

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Gold pitched away from last week gains and a four day win streak to fall slightly on Monday. A fluctuating U.S. dollar spurred the yellow metal to recover a chunk of earlier day losses. Silver and platinum declined more firmly while crude-oil rallied with U.S. stocks.

In New York trading futures for bullion:

• Silver for July delivery fell 18.1 cents, or 1.3 percent, to 13.947 an ounce.

• Gold for August delivery lost 30 cents, or 0.03 percent, to $940.70 an ounce.

• July platinum declined $18.80, or 1.6 percent, to $1,184.20 an ounce.

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OTTAWA, ON — The Royal Canadian Mint today released the findings of a third party review related to the unreconciled difference between the Corporation’s rolling inventory and the physical count of precious metals for the 2008 fiscal year.

The scope of the review, conducted by Deloitte and Touche, was to specifically determine if the unreconciled difference in gold was the result of an accounting or transaction recording error.

The report concluded that "the unaccounted for difference in gold does not appear to relate to an accounting error in the reconciliation process, an accounting error in the physical stock count schedules, or an accounting error in the recordkeeping of transactions during the year."

The Deloitte and Touche report identified three other areas for consideration: Read the rest of this entry »

Precious metals split this week and experienced narrow movements. Gold appeared slightly more attractive to investors as the U.S. dollar showed weakness. The yellow metal in London ended higher for the first week in four while silver marked its first gain in three. Platinum, however, retreated for week three.

In other markets, crude-oil fell below $70 to register a second week of losses while U.S. stocks finished mixed. Major European indexes moved lower.

In London for the week, gold modestly climbed 0.7 percent, silver inched 0.2 percent higher, and platinum slid 0.7 percent. Precious metal figures follow:

Silver closed Friday to $14.26 an ounce, gaining 3 cents this week.

Gold was fixed at $942.00 an ounce, rising $6.75 on the week.

Platinum fell to $1,203.00 an ounce, declining $9.00 for the week. Read the rest of this entry »

Gold and silver on Thursday marked a third straight day of gains while platinum rose for day two. Helping the yellow metal was a weakened U.S. dollar, rallying crude-oil prices and a mention of possible Chinese purchases. U.S. stocks returned in a posistive session as well with two percent increases in the major indexes.

In New York trading futures for bullion:

• Silver for July delivery rose 9.5 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $14.005 an ounce.

• Gold for August delivery gained $5.10, or 0.5 percent, to $939.50 an ounce.

• July platinum jumped $23.10, or 2.3 percent, to $1,191.00 an ounce.

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Gold and silver climbed on Wednesday for the second straight day while platinum rose for the first time this week. A rallying U.S. dollar trimmed some of the yellow metal’s earlier gains, and was cited as a catalyst in pushing crude-oil prices lower. U.S. stocks ended mixed.

In New York trading futures for bullion:

• Silver for July delivery climbed 6.5 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $13.91 an ounce.

• Gold for August delivery gained $10.10, or 1.1 percent, to $934.40 an ounce.

• July platinum rose $2.50, or 0.2 percent, to $1,167.90 an ounce.

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Gold and silver edged slightly higher on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar was pressured lower to include the biggest drop against the euro in six weeks. Platinum, however, fell modestly. In other markets, crude-oil jumped after rallying to overcome an earlier fall toward $66 a barrel while U.S. stocks closed with little movement.

In New York trading futures for bullion:

• Silver for July delivery rose 14.2 cents, or 1.0 percent, to $13.845 an ounce.

• Gold for August deliver gained $3.30, or 0.4 percent, to $924.30 an ounce.

• July platinum fell $3.70, or 0.3 percent, to $1,165.40 an ounce.

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