Precious metal prices rose for fourth straight time on Tuesday, 04 August, 2009. Prices rose as the dollar remained at ten month lows.
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 $967.5, higher by $10.9 (1.1%) an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It rose as high as $969.5 earlier. Last week, gold ended almost unchanged. Year to date, gold prices are higher by 8.9%.
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 (9.2%) since then.
On Tuesday, Comex silver futures for September delivery gained 44.3 cents (3.1%) at $14.695 an ounce. Last week, silver ended higher by 0.5%.
Silver ended 2.7% higher for July, 2009. For second quarter, silver rose 4.5%. Year to date, silver has climbed 30.3% this year. For 2008, silver had lost 24%.
In the currency market on Tuesday, the dollar index, a six-currency gauge of the greenback's value, rose marginally.
As per latest report, net official gold sales slumped to 39 metric tons in the first half of 2009, down 73% from a year ago.
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 124 (0.83%) at Rs 14,893 per 10 grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 14,944 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 14,721 per 10 grams during the day's trading.
At the MCX, silver prices for September delivery closed Rs 489 (2.14%) higher at Rs 23,247/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 22,726/kg and rose to a high of Rs 23,396/Kg during the day's trading.