Precious metal prices ended considerably higher on
Prices were slipping since last couple of days due to impending worries from
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 April delivery ended at $1,105 an ounce, higher by $21.2 (1.9%) an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Last week, gold lost 0.6%. For January 2010, gold lost 1.2%. Year to date, gold has gained 0.7%.
Last year, after hitting a low at $807.30 per ounce on
On Monday, March Comex silver futures ended higher by 47 cents (2.9%) at $16.66 an ounce. Last week, silver ended lower by 4.3%. In January 2010, silver shed 3.9%. Year to date in FY 2010, silver has dropped by almost 1%.
Silver futures had hit a low at $10.42 on
Among economic data expected for the day, The Institute for Supply Management in US reported on
But enthusiasm over the report was a bit tempered by a steeper-than-expected 1.2% drop in construction spending during December. Separately, personal income during December was up 0.4% in a slightly sharper increase than had been expected, but spending during December increased at a softer-than-expected pace of 0.2%. Core personal consumption expenditures increased just 0.1% month-over-month, but that was in-line with expectations.
In the currency market on Monday, the dollar index, which weighs the strength of dollar against the basket of six other currencies fell by almost 0.2%.
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.
At the MCX, gold prices for April delivery closed higher by Rs 303 (1.85%) at Rs 16,620 per ten grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 16,661 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 16,291 per 10 grams during the day's trading.
At the MCX, silver prices for March delivery closed Rs 568 (2.22%) higher at Rs 26,068/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 25,560/kg and rose to a high of Rs 26,117/Kg during the day's trading.