Gold futures on Tuesday scored a third straight session gain and closed at their highest price in more than two weeks.
Gold for February delivery added $3.20, or 0.3%, to end at $1,078.40 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The settlement was the highest since Dec. 21.
"Some more safe-haven buying and short covering in the futures market were featured, following decent gains posted Monday," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a report. "Unrest in the Middle East and weak Chinese economic data released Monday have worked in favor of the yellow metal early this week."
Gold prices ranged from a low of $1,071.90 to a high of $1,081.50. In starting the week and new trading year on Monday, gold tacked on $15 or 1.4%.
Silver for March delivery advanced 13 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $13.971 an ounce. Silver prices traded from $13.85 to $14.07. The close was the highest since Dec. 24. Silver climbed 0.3% on Monday.
In PGM futures on Tuesday:
-
April platinum rose $5.50, or 0.6%, to $890 an ounce, ranging from $880.70 to $899.10.
- Palladium for March delivery fell $8.45, or 1.6%, to $535.75 an ounce, trading between $534.05 and $548.65.
London Precious Metals Prices
Earlier fixed London gold and silver prices were mixed. In comparing their levels from Monday PM to Tuesday PM:
- Gold declined $5.25, or 0.5%, to $1,077 an ounce.
- Silver added a penny, or less than 0.1%, to $14.01 an ounce.
LBMA platinum and palladium prices are available on the LBMA’s website with a delay of midnight.
US Mint Bullion Coin Sales in 2016
United States Mint bullion sales will take off next Monday, Jan. 11, when newly 2016-coins become available. Most of the 2015-dated issues sold out with product series scoring multi-year highs, like American Gold Buffalo and ATB five ounce silver coins, and an annual record, like American Silver Eagles.
Below is a sales breakdown of U.S. Mint bullion products with columns listing the number of bullion coins sold during varying periods. Products with an asterisk (*) have sold out.
| US Mint Bullion Sales (# of coins) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday / This Week | Last Week | Dec Sales | 2015 Sales | YTD Sales | |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coins* | N/A | N/A | N/A | 626,500 | N/A |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 0 | 1,000 | 75,000 | 0 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coins* | N/A | N/A | N/A | 158,000 | N/A |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coins* | N/A | N/A | N/A | 980,000 | N/A |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coins | 0 | 0 | 1,500 | 220,500 | 0 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coins* | N/A | N/A | 2,333,500 | 47,000,000 | N/A |
| 2015 Homestead 5 Oz Silver Coins* | N/A | 35,000 | N/A | ||
| 2015 Kisatchie 5 Oz Silver Coins* | 42,000 | ||||
| 2015 Blue Ridge Parkway 5 Oz Silver Coins* | 45,000 | ||||
| 2015 Bombay Hook 5 Oz Silver Coins* | 45,000 | ||||
| 2015 Saratoga 5 Oz Silver Coins* | N/A | 9,200 | 45,000 | ||
