Bullion metals turn pale

Prices drop as Chinese data show more exports

Bullion metal prices ended lower on Wednesday, 09 June 2010 at Comex. Prices fell following reports that exports from China were much more than expected in May 2010. The stronger euro also took a toll on precious metal's health.



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. Recently, the embattled euro has played stronger role in moving prices rather than dollar fluctuation. Bullion metals have registered increase in prices despite strong dollar in recent times and vice versa.

On Wednesday, gold for August delivery ended at $1,229.9 an ounce, lower by $15.8 (1.3%) an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Yesterday, gold did trade to a new all time high, at $1254.40 in the overnight session. Last week, gold ended higher by 0.3%. Prices had touched an all time high of $1,249.7 on 14 May 2010.

Gold also has set fresh record prices in euros, the British pound, the Indian rupee, the South African rand and the Chinese yuan, among others a day before.

Gold for June delivery had settled above $1,200 in early December 2009, only to pull back to $1,172 area and dip as much as the $1,050 vicinity in early February 2010. Gold ended May higher by 3%. For the month of April, gold ended higher by 6%. For the first quarter of this year, gold rose by 1.7%, its sixth quarterly rise. On a year to date basis, gold is higher by 11.9%.

On Wednesday, July Comex silver futures ended higher by 29 cents (1.6%) at $18.18 an ounce. Last week, silver ended lower by 6%. For May, silver shed 1.1%. For the month of April, silver ended higher by 4.1%. For the first quarter of this year, silver rose by 3%. On a year to date basis, silver is higher by 4.9%.

Latest reports indicated that there was a 50% surge in Chinese exports in May, much more than what was expected.

In the currency market on Wednesday, the dollar index, which measures the strength of the dollar against a basket of six currencies, fell by 0.7%.

Gold had ended FY 2009 higher by 24%. Silver futures had ended 2009 up 50%. The dollar index had lost 4.2% against its counterparts last year.

Last year, after hitting a low at $807.30 per ounce on 15 January 2009, gold futures rallied almost 51% to hit an all-time high at $1217.40 per ounce during early December of 2009 but fell from those levels at the end. Silver futures had hit a low at $10.42 on 15 January 2009 and hit a high at $19.30 per ounce on 2 December 2009. Like gold, silver also ended lower than its all time high level.

At the MCX, gold prices for August delivery closed lower by Rs 202 (1.06%) at Rs 18,789 per ten grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 18,999 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 18,697 per 10 grams during the day's trading.

At the MCX, silver prices for July delivery closed Rs 305 (1.03%) lower at Rs 29,117/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 29,369/kg and fell to a low of Rs 29,004/Kg during the day's trading.