Precious metals futures ended mixed Monday for a second straight session. Changes across the metals were modest, ranging from a less than 0.1% decline in platinum to a 0.6% increase in palladium. The latter posted a fresh, six-month high.
Gold for December delivery rose $3.10, or 0.3%, to settle at $1,204.40 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
"I remain constructive on gold after we’ve seen it consolidate for the past month. The risk to the dollar is some additional weakness, but at this stage we have to maintain a neutral stance," Reuters quoted Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank in Copenhagen.
Gold futures ranged from a low of $1,198.60 to a high of $1,208.80. They edged up 20 cents last week.
Silver for December delivery declined 1.8 cents, or 0.1%, to close at $14.341 an ounce. Silver futures traded between $14.22 and $14.42. They moved up 1.5% last week, ending Friday at their best price since Aug. 31.
In other precious metals futures prices on Monday:
-
October platinum dipped 30 cents to $829.30 an ounce, ranging from $823.20 to $835.40.
- Palladium for December delivery increased $6.70 to $1,051.60 an ounce — its best settlement since Feb. 26. The precious metal traded between $1,034.70 and $1,052.80.
The pair last week logged respective gains of 3.9% and 7.7%.
London Precious Metals Prices
In comparing earlier fixed London gold and silver prices from Friday PM to Monday PM:
- Gold added $4.05, or 0.3%, to 1,202.75 an ounce.
- Silver lost 1.5 cents, 0.1%, to $14.315 an ounce.
LBMA platinum and palladium prices are available on the LBMA’s website with a delay of midnight.
In LBMA results last week, prices for gold declined 0.3% while those for others registered increases of 0.8% for silver, 3% for platinum, and 5.9% for palladium.
US Mint Bullion Sales in 2018
United States Mint bullion products increased by 1,000 ounces in American Gold Eagles and by 75,000 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) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Last Week | August | September | 2018 Sales | |
| $100 American Eagle 1 Oz Platinum Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 |
| $50 American Eagle 1 Oz Gold Coin | 1,000 | 1,500 | 17,500 | 12,000 | 148,500 |
| $25 American Eagle 1/2 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 4,000 | 1,000 | 23,000 |
| $10 American Eagle 1/4 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 58,000 |
| $5 American Eagle 1/10 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 10,000 | 40,000 | 200,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo 1 Oz Gold Coin | 0 | 0 | 20,000 | 6,500 | 104,500 |
| $1 American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin | 75,000 | 925,000 | 1,530,000 | 2,037,500 | 11,275,000 |
| Pictured Rocks 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 |
| Apostle Islands 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 |
| Voyageurs 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 |
| Cumberland Island 5 Oz Silver Coin | 0 | 1,500 | N/A | 52,500 | 52,500 |
