Precious metal prices ended mixed on Thursday, 27 August, 2009. Gold prices rose today as the dollar slipped. But silver prices fell marginally.
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 Thursday, gold for December delivery ended at $947.4, higher by $1.6 (0.2%) an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Last week, gold ended higher by almost 0.6%. Year to date, gold prices are higher by 6.8%.
Gold ended July, 2009 higher by 2.8%. Before this, 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 (8.5%) since then.
On Thursday, Comex silver futures for September delivery fell by 3 cents (0.2%) to $14.22 an ounce. Last week, silver ended lower by 3.9%.
Silver ended 2.7% higher for July, 2009. For second quarter, silver rose 4.5%. Year to date, silver has climbed 27.8% this year. For 2008, silver had lost 24%.
In the currency market on Thursday, the dollar index which weighs the value of dollar against a basket of six other currencies fell by 0.2%.
The preliminary second quarter GDP reading showed that the U.S. economy contracted at an annualized rate of 1%, unrevised from the advance reading and better than expected. Consumer spending was revised modestly higher to show a 1.0% decline, which was also a bit better than expected.
In 2008, gold prices ended higher by 5.5%. The dollar index had gained 12% that year.
At the MCX, gold prices for October delivery closed higher by Rs 6 (0.03%) at Rs 15,027 per 10 grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 15,064 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 14,980 per 10 grams during the day's trading.
At the MCX, silver prices for September delivery closed Rs 94 (0.4%) lower at Rs 23,296/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 23,352/kg and fell to a low of Rs 23,124/Kg during the day's trading.