Gold, Silver Prices Plunge for Week; US Gold Bullion Coins Jump

Precious metals bounced higher Friday but Thursday’s bloodbath assured weekly declines that stacked to 6.9% for gold, 9.1% for silver, 5.4% for platinum and 7.8% for palladium.

On Friday, gold for August delivery rose $5.80, or 0.5%, to settle at $1,292.00 an ounce on the Comex in New York. Prices in the previous session tumbled $87.80, or 6.4%, as the yellow metal closed at its lowest point since September 2010. Losses were spurred after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday that the central bank could begin scaling back its stimulus measures later this year.

"The sell off from the Fed’s announcement, as well as recent declines on concern about an impending Fed easing of stimulus, is overdone," Bloomberg quoted Adrian Day, who manages about $135 million of assets as the president of Adrian Day Asset Management in Annapolis, Maryland. "Monetary policy globally remains very accommodative," added Day.

Surveys on Gold Prices for Next Week

Weekly gold surveys suggest further declines. Participants in Bloomberg’s survey were the most bearish since January 2010 with 15 participants expecting prices to fall next week, 6 forecasting gains and 5 neutral. Kitco’s survey showed only a touch less bearish sentiment.

"This week’s survey had smaller-than-normal participation, with 19 of 36 regular respondents taking part. Of those, 11 see prices down, while four see prices up and four look for sideways consolidation," notes Kitco News.

"Some look for the market to continue to factor in scaled-back quantitative easing in the U.S., following Federal Reserve commentary this week, which would continue to pressure gold… Some looking for an uptick in gold, however, suggest the market has over-reacted as it factored in future scaling back of monetary stimulus…"

Gold prices this year have fallen to the tune of $383.80, or 22.9%.

Silver, Platinum and Palladium Futures

Rounding out precious metals futures in New York on Friday:

• Snapping a four-session losing streak and also after closing to their lowest level since September 2010, silver prices for July delivery inched up 13.6 cents, or 0.7% to $19.96 an ounce. The precious metal plummeted $1.80, or 8.3%, on Thursday. Silver gave back $2 this week.

• September platinum added $5.70, or 0.4%, to finish at $1,369.50 an ounce. Platinum on Thursday stumbled $60.10.

• Enjoying the strongest gains among precious metals, palladium for September delivery advanced $9.65, or 1.5%, to end at $674.75 an ounce. It sank $31.30 on Thursday.

For the year-to-date, silver prices have dropped a staggering $10.27, or 34%. Losses in PGMs total 11.2% for platinum and 4.1% for palladium.

London Fix Precious Metals

London precious metals fixings were mixed Friday with silver and platinum adding to their prior day’s deep declines and gold and palladium rising slightly. When comparing the Thursday PM to Friday PM London Fix prices:

• Gold climbed $2.75, or 0.2%, to $1,295.25 an ounce,
• Silver prices fell 37 cents, or 1.8%, to $19.87 an ounce,
• Platinum declined $26, or 1.9%, to $1,365 an ounce, and
• Palladium added $2, or 0.3%, to $672 an ounce

As for the week and like New York precious metals futures, London bullion fixings plummeted. Percent losses weighted by severity were silver by 8.4%, palladium by 7.7%, gold by 6.9% and platinum by 5.7%.

US Bullion Coin Sales in June

In a reversal from last week, demand for United States Mint bullion products increased sharply for gold coins but edged down for silver coins. In weekly bullion breakdowns:

• Gold coins surged 23,000 ounces after gaining a relatively modest 7,500 ounces in the previous week. Splits were 20,000 ounces in 22-karat American Gold Eagles and 3,000 ounces in 24-karat American Gold Buffalo coins.

• Silver coins advanced 801,500 ounces compared to the previous weekly total of 881,500 ounces. Splits were 800,000 ounces in American Silver Eagles and 1,500 ounces in America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins. All of the America the Beautiful sales came from Perry’s Victory coins with U.S Mint distributors ordering 300.

In the notable column, American Silver Eagles with year-to-date sales of 24,196,500 remain on pace to set an annual record. Silver Eagles notched their current annual sales record in 2011 at just below 40 million. That year, it took until July 18, 2011 for sales to reach where they are now for this year’s coins. Last year’s sales did not hit this year’s level until September 17, 2012.

The following are daily, June and year-to-date bullion coin totals as provided by the United States Mint.

Figures above are in the number of coins sold, not in ounces.

US Silver Coin Melt Values in June and 2013

Melt values of silver coins plunged with silver this week. Those interested in "junk silver coins" for their melt values must decide if now is the time to buy at what could be bargain prices or wait for possible greater declines.

The following table shows melt values for older circulating U.S. silver coins. These coins, at least those that have little or no real numismatic worth because they are common or too worn, are the ones often sought for their melt values. Coin melt values shown are based on the London silver Fix prices at the end of 2012, on May 31 and on June 21. For reference, melt values of newer bullion silver coins are also provided.

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