Precious metals futures advanced Tuesday, moving slightly ahead for the week after posting losses on Monday.
Gold for April delivery gained $6.30, or 0.5%, to settle at $1,327.10 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
"The key economic data point of the day Tuesday saw the U.S. consumer price index report for February come in at up 0.2%, and up 2.2%, year-on-year," Jim Wyckoff, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said in a report. "The metals markets were supported on the news because the inflation data was not deemed “too hot."
For a third straight month, core inflation on an annual basis grew 1.8%.
Gold futures traded from a low of $1,313.80 to a high of $1,328.80. They shed 0.2% on Monday.
Silver for May delivery settled up 9.1 cents, or 0.6%, to $16.627 an ounce. Silver futures ranged from $16.46 to $16.69. They lost 0.4% in the previous session.
In other precious metals futures prices:
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April platinum rose $4.40, or 0.5%, to $967.30 an ounce, trading between $961.90 and $972.90.
- Palladium for June delivery surged $23.95, or 2.5%, to $991.60 an ounce, ranging from $971.05 to $993.35.
London Precious Metals Prices
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Monday PM to Tuesday PM:
- Gold rose $3.60, or 0.3%, to $1,322.75 an ounce.
- Silver added 5.5 cents, or 0.3, to $16.51 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
U.S. Mint bullion sales advanced by 145,000 ounces in American Silver Eagles. Below is a sales breakdown of U.S. Mint bullion products with columns listing the number of coins sold during varying periods.
| US Mint Bullion Sales (# of coins) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Last Week | This Week | February | March | 2018 Sales | |
| $100 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,000 | 0 | 20,000 |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 2,500 | 0 | 5,000 | 2,500 | 43,500 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 10,000 | 0 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 95,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 1,000 | 0 | 2,500 | 1,000 | 27,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 145,000 | 165,000 | 270,000 | 942,500 | 435,000 | 4,612,500 |
| Pictured Rocks 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,000 | 0 | 20,000 |
