Bullion metals end lower

Stronger dollar tarnish precious metals

Bullion metal prices ended lower for the sixth straight time on Monday, 02 March, 2009. Prices continued to fall as the dollar strengthened against the potential rivals and also as traders anticipated that economy will recover in the coming months and this decreased the appeal of the precious metals.

Generally, a stronger dollar pressures demand for dollar-denominated commodities, such as crude oil and gold, which become more expensive for holders of other currencies and also vice versa.

On Monday, Comex Gold for April delivery fell $2.5 (0.3%) to close at $940 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Last week, gold ended lower by 6%. For the month of February, gold ended higher by 7.4%. For January, 2009, gold had gained 3.9%. Year to date, gold prices are higher by 8.2%.

On 17 March, 2008 prices had skyrocketed to a high of $1,034/ounce. But prices have dropped significantly (8%) since then.

On Monday, Comex silver futures for March delivery fell 4 cents (0.3%) to end at $13.07 an ounce. In February, 2009, silver had rose 4.3% after climbing 14% in January. Year to date, silver has climbed 18.2% this year. For 2008, silver had lost 24%.

In the currency market on Monday, the dollar index, which measures the value of dollar against a basted of six weighted currencies, gained 0.7% after gaining 2.2% in February, 2009.

The World Gold Council had reported in February that demand for gold surpassed $100 billion last year for the first time ever, amid increased industrial and jewelry consumption and investors' purchase of the metal as a safe haven. Gold demand - including jewelry consumption, industrial demand and identifiable investments such as bars, coins and gold exchange-traded funds - hit $102 billion in 2008, up 29% from a year ago. In tonnage terms, gold demand rose 4% to 3,659 tons.

In 2008, gold prices ended higher by 5.5%. The dollar index had gained 12% that year.

Last year, the weakening dollar and higher global demand for raw materials had led to records for commodities including gold. Gold reached a record in March 2008 as a U.S. housing slump and credit crisis spurred the Federal Reserve to slash borrowing costs. In the last move, the Federal Reserve has cuts its target bank lending rate to 0.25% from 5.25% in September, 2007. The Fed did it in nine steps.

Prior to 2008, gold had witnessed the greatest annual gain in twenty eight years by gaining $200/ounce (31%) in FY 2007 as lower interest rates had sent the dollar tumbling, and crude-oil prices rose to a record. Silver had climbed 16% in FY 2007. In 2006, silver had jumped 46% while gold gained 23%.

At the MCX, gold prices for April delivery closed higher by Rs 302 (1.9%) at Rs 15,806 per 10 grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 15,968 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 15,525 per 10 grams during the day's trading.

At the MCX, silver prices for May delivery closed Rs 470 (2.1%) higher at Rs 22,640/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 22,279/kg and rose to a high of Rs 22,838/Kg during the day's trading.