Precious metal prices gave up earlier gains and ended lower on Thursday, 17 September, 2009. Prices fell today as dollar erased earlier losses and firmed up at the end.
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 $1013.5, lower by $6.7 (0.6%) an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. During intra day trading, it rose to a high of $1,025.8. Last week, gold ended higher by 1%. Year to date, gold prices are higher by 15.8%.
Gold ended August, 2009 higher by 0.2%. 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 (2%) since then.
On Thursday, Comex silver futures for December delivery fell 16 cents (0.9%) to $17.27 an ounce. Last week, silver ended higher by 2.5%.
Silver ended 7.1% higher for August, 2009. For second quarter, silver rose 4.5%. Year to date, silver has climbed 49.6% this year. For 2008, silver had lost 24%.
The dollar, which has served as a safe-haven asset over the past year because of its low yield, fell earlier today. But then, it reversed its course. The dollar index, which measures the strength of dollar against a basket of other currencies, rose by 0.4%.
The Labor Department in US reported on Thursday, 17 September, 2009 that The number of people filing for state unemployment benefits for the first time fell 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 545,000 last week, the lowest since mid-July, 2009. The number of people claiming benefits of any kind was 9.53 million, not seasonally adjusted.
The Commerce Department reported on Thursday, 17 September, 2009 that construction of new single-family homes and apartments accelerated in August to the strongest pace in nine months. Total housing starts rose 1.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 598,000, the highest figure since November 2008.
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 lower by Rs 56 (0.35%) at Rs 15,852 per 10 grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 15,971 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 15,820 per 10 grams during the day's trading.
At the MCX, silver prices for December delivery closed Rs 167 (0.6%) lower at Rs 27,455/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 27,645/kg and fell to a low of Rs 27,415/Kg during the day's trading.