Mixed finish for precious metals

Gold shines but silver turns pale

Bullion metal prices ended mixed on Wednesday, 18 August 2010 at Comex. Gold prices ended marginally higher while silver prices slipped. Prices fluctuated due o a steady dollar.



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 December delivery ended at $1,231.3 an ounce, higher by $3.1 (0.3%) on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Last week, gold ended higher by 0.9%.

Gold ended the month of July lower by 5%. It was the worst monthly loss for gold since December 2009. Before this, it ended June higher by 2.5%. For the second quarter, gold ended up by 12%, its seventh consecutive quarterly gain. For the first quarter of this year, gold rose by 1.7%. On a year to date basis, gold is higher by 13%.

On Wednesday, September Comex silver futures ended lower by 20 cents (1.1%) at $18.39 an ounce. Last week, silver ended lower by 2%. For the month of July 2010, silver shed 3.7%. For the second quarter, silver ended higher by 3.1%. For the first quarter of this year, silver rose by 3%. On a year to date basis, silver is higher by 3.5%.

In the currency market on Wednesday, the dollar index, which weighs the strength of the dollar against a basket of six other currencies, fell by 0.1% after rising initially.

As per latest report, China, which recently moved to liberalize its gold trading and buying system, expanded its gold production. In the first half of this year, 159.24 tons of gold were produced reportedly which is 8.7% more than the year before.

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 October delivery closed higher by Rs 30 (0.2%) at Rs 18,673 per ten grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 18,715 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 18,540 per 10 grams during the day's trading.

At the MCX, silver prices for September delivery closed Rs 224 (0.76%) lower at Rs 29,300/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 29,522/kg and fell to a low of Rs 29,008/Kg during the day's trading.