Precious metals futures ended mixed Thursday. Gold finished lower for the first time in four sessions, slipping from a three-week high.
Gold for April delivery shed $2.70, or 0.2%, to settle at $1,355.30 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
"Gold prices were ending the U.S. day session modestly lower Thursday, on a minor downside correction from the strong gains seen Wednesday," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a report. "Still, the gold bulls this week have gained technical power to suggest more upside price action is likely in the near term."
Gold futures ranged from a low of $1,350.80 to a high of $1,359.80. They surged 2.1% on Wednesday — ending at their best price since Jan. 25, climbed 0.3% on Tuesday, and gained 0.8% on Monday.
Silver for March delivery declined 8.2 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $16.796 an ounce. Silver futures traded between $16.60 and $16.95. They jumped 2.1% in the previous session, shed 0.3% on Tuesday and rallied 2.7% on Monday.
In other precious metals futures Thursday:
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April platinum added $2, or 0.2%, to $1,001.10 an ounce, ranging from $996.50 to $1,009.70.
- Palladium for March delivery advanced $9.35, or 0.9%, to $1,006.65 an ounce, trading between $996.05 and $1,015.65.
London Precious Metals Prices
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Wednesday PM to Thursday PM:
- Gold gained $16.20, or 1.2%, to $1,352.45 an ounce.
- Silver added 24.5 cents, or 1.5%, to $16.825 an ounce.
LBMA platinum and palladium prices are available on the LBMA’s website with a delay of midnight.
US Mint Bullion Sales in 2018
United States Mint bullion sales were unchanged. Below is a sales breakdown of U.S. bullion products with columns listing the number of coins sold during varying periods.
US Mint Bullion Sales (# of coins) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday | Last Week | This Week | December | January | February | 2018 Sales | |
$100 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coin | 0 | N/A | 20,000 | N/A | N/A | 20,000 | 20,000 |
$50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 500 | 1,500 | 38,000 | 36,000 | 3,000 | 39,000 |
$25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3,000 | 16,000 | 0 | 16,000 |
$10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,000 | 26,000 | 0 | 26,000 |
$5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25,000 | 80,000 | 0 | 80,000 |
$50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 500 | 500 | 14,000 | 24,000 | 2,000 | 26,000 |
$1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 225,000 | 410,000 | 742,000 | 3,235,000 | 635,000 | 3,870,000 |
The invisible millionaires walk silently amongst us, steadily and efficiently vacuuming up unbelievable, unheard of quantities of whatever available silver, gold, platinum and palladium they – or rather, their designated gofetchits – can possibly find. Amen.