Precious metal prices ended lower on Monday, 14 September, 2009. Prices rose as the dollar strengthened. Yellow metal prices fell from eighteen month high level.
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 Monday, gold for December delivery ended at $1001.1, lower by $5.3 (0.5%) an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Last week, gold ended higher by 1%. Year to date, gold prices are higher by 14.5%.
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 (2.5%) since then.
On Monday, Comex silver futures for December delivery fell 7.7 cents (0.5%) to $16.623 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 44% this year. For 2008, silver had lost 24%.
In the currency market on Monday, the dollar index, which measures the strength of dollar against a basket of other currencies, rose by 0.4%.
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 44 (0.3%) at Rs 15,791 per 10 grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 15,869 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 15,734 per 10 grams during the day's trading.
At the MCX, silver prices for December delivery closed Rs 198 (0.73%) lower at Rs 26,735/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 26,830/kg and fell to a low of Rs 26,450/Kg during the day's trading.