Gold prices ended lower for the third time in four sessions Thursday, but the yellow metal is down just slightly on the week so far as daily changes have been modest.
Gold for June delivery dipped $3.30, or 0.3%, to close at $1,198 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The yellow metal traded between $1,194.30 and $1,208.80. Prices are down 0.2% since Friday.
"Gold seems caught between a rock and a hard place as investors balance the prospect of interest rate hikes in the U.S. starting soon and the unfolding events in Greece," MarketWatch quoted Richard Gotterer, managing director and senior financial adviser at Wescott financial Advisory Group.
Silver for May delivery added a half cent, or less than 0.1%, to settle at $16.28 an ounce. Prices ranged from $16.10 to $16.48. They climbed 0.7% in the prior session.
In PGM futures on Thursday:
-
July platinum rose $2.60, or 0.2%, to $1,159.20 an ounce, trading between $1,153.40 and $1,175.60.
- Palladium for June delivery moved up $12.65, or 1.7%, to $779.75 an ounce, ranging from $768 to $783.50.
London Precious Metals Prices
Earlier fixed London precious metals advanced. In comparing London bullion prices from Wednesday PM to Thursday PM:
- Gold gained $11.45, or 1%, to $1,204.35 an ounce,
- Silver picked up 29 cents, or 1.8%, to $16.47 an ounce,
- Platinum added $19, or 1.7%, to $1,167 an ounce, and
- Palladium rose $13, or 1.7%, to $776 an ounce.
US Mint Bullion Coin Sales in April
United States Mint bullion sales have been silent for two consecutive days after soaring early in the week. This listing of U.S. Mint bullion products show the number of coins sold during varying periods. Products with an asterisk (*) are no longer available.
| US Mint Bullion Sales (# of coins) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Sales | Last Week | Current Week | March Sales | April Sales | YTD Sales | |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 1,500 | 5,000 | 35,000 | 6,500 | 105,500 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 1,000 | 0 | 5,000 | 2,000 | 27,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 2,000 | 0 | 8,000 | 2,000 | 46,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 70,000 | 20,000 | 255,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 2,500 | 1,500 | 9,500 | 5,500 | 61,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coins | 0 | 771,000 | 575,500 | 3,519,000 | 1,418,500 | 13,489,500 |
| 2015 Homestead 5 Oz Silver Coins* | – | 15,000 | – | 35,000 | ||
