Bullion metals lose more glaze

Prices drop as the dollar strengthens

Precious metal prices fell at USA on Tuesday, 30 June, 2009. Prices fell today as the dollar rose today after consumer confidence data showed unexpected drop for latest month.

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 Tuesday, gold for August delivery ended at $927.4, lower by $13.30 (1.4%) an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Last week, gold ended higher by 1%. This was the first weekly gain for the yellow metal in four weeks. Year to date, gold prices are higher by 4.9%.

For the month of June, 2009, gold ended down by 5.4%. Gold had ended the month of May higher by 9.8%. It was the highest monthly gain registered by gold in six months. For the second quarter, gold ended higher by 0.5%. The metal had gained 4.3% in the first quarter of this year.

On 17 March, 2008 prices had skyrocketed to a high of $1,034/ounce. But prices have dropped somewhat (8.9%) since then.

On Tuesday, Comex silver futures for July delivery fell 27.3 cents (1.9%) at $13.574 an ounce. Last week, silver ended lower by 0.5%.

Silver ended 13% down for the month of June, 2009. For the month of May, silver gained 26.6%. It was the biggest monthly gain for silver in more than two decades. For second quarter, silver rose 4.5%. Year to date, silver has climbed 20% this year. For 2008, silver had lost 24%.

In the currency market on Tuesday, the dollar index, a six-currency measure of the greenback's value, rose, heading for the first gain in four sessions, after the business-backed Conference Board in New York said consumer sentiment declined this month. The dollar index gained 0.4% today. The dollar index dropped by 6.4% in the second quarter and is lower by 1% on a y-t-d basis.

The Conference Board reported on Tuesday, 30 June, 2009 that reading on U.S. consumer confidence relapsed in June, falling to 49.3 from a slightly downwardly revised 54.8 in May. After a large confidence jump in May, consumers once again grew more pessimistic in June about their present and future. The present situation index declined to 24.8 in June from 29.7 in May, while the expectations index fell to 65.5 from 71.5.

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

At the MCX, gold prices for August delivery closed lower by Rs 158 (1.08%) at Rs 14,451 per 10 grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 14,624 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 14,407 per 10 grams during the day's trading.

At the MCX, silver prices for September delivery closed Rs 432 (1.93%) lower at Rs 21,924/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 22,405/kg and fell to a low of Rs 21,817/Kg during the day's trading.