💎 Fed’s first rate cut since 2020 set to trigger market. Find undervalued gems with Fair ValueSee Undervalued Stocks

PRECIOUS-Gold ends down but off session low as dollar drops

Published 06/02/2011, 05:26 PM
PMC
-
GC
-
SI
-
CL
-
PA
-
PL
-

* Gold cuts loss as euro soars on possible Greek debt deal

* Most commodities rebound as data argue for more stimulus

* PGMs still off after weak U.S. car sales, factory orders

* Silver falls about 4 pct after more weak factory data

* Coming up: May US jobs data - Fri 8:30 a.m. EDT/1230 GMT (Recasts, updates prices, market activity; updates price table)

By Carole Vaporean

NEW YORK, June 2 (Reuters) - Gold ended moderately lower on Thursday in see-saw trade, falling as much as 1 percent in a profit-taking spree, then bouncing off the session low as the dollar slid when a ratings agency expressed concern that the United States might default on its debt.

"You might have gotten some knee-jerk profit-taking to begin with, but things have gone back up because the euro went through the roof," said Sean McGillivray, head of asset allocation at Great Pacific Wealth Management in Oregon.

Spot gold was down at $1,533.50 an ounce, having risen earlier to a session high at $1,544.16, and then fallen to one-week low at $1,519.60. If ended Wednesday at $1,540.20.

August COMEX futures lost 0.7 percent, or $10.50, to settle at $1,532.70, after rupturing support to fall as low as $1,520.40.

The euro touched a one-month high against the dollar after Moody's Investors Service said there was a small, but rising risk of a short-lived default by the United States with no increase in the statutory debt limit in coming weeks. [USD/]

The euro had already extended gains against the dollar, helped by a Reuters report that euro zone officials had agreed in principle on a new three-year adjustment program for Greece that would involve increased external funding. [ID:nLDE7510VR]

Gold fell to its session low as most commodities were swept up in a broad sell-off.

"With the discussions in the market about lower commodity prices if China's slowing. We also had an outright decline in crude oil as well as base metals, that sapped some of the vigor from the bullion market," said James Steel metals analyst at HSBC in New York.

Gold pulled up from the lows when many other commodities turned higher, as the dollar's slide brought back the so-called risk trade.

Gold was supported the latest weaker-than-expected U.S. economic reading cast doubt on the outlook for growth in the world's largest economy.

Thursday's weak U.S. factory data added to a raft of negative U.S. economic reports in May that gave many investors the impression easy money would continue to be available.

"With such weak data, it leaves the door open for some kind of stimulus and keeping interest rates low. That's what's been rallying commodities in the first half of the year," he said.

On Friday, investors will be anxiously awaiting the U.S. employment report for May. Economists polled by Reuters look for jobs growth of 150,000 for the month, which could put a pause in investments of riskier assets. But, a negative number could cause a more buying in commodities.

Thursday's data showed the number of Americans signing up for jobless benefits fell slightly last week, doing little to calm fears of a stalled in the U.S. economy's recovery. [ID:nN02246578]

And, new U.S. factory orders dropped in April, partly because of a 1.2 percent drop in demand for transportation goods, after an upwardly revised March rise. [ID:nN02253767]

Because of its industrial component, silver suffered the steepest losses after a third day of disappointing U.S. data.

July silver futures tumbled to $36.2020 an ounce, ending down $1.4920, or nearly 4 percent. Spot silver cut declines by late trade to $36.12, off $36.79 previously.

"It's been silver that has taken the harder fall, because of the greater industrial component there. It has been the weak link in the group," said Steel.

GOLD STILL SUPPORTED

The gold price has still risen by over 5 percent since the early-May sell-off, and the outflow of cash from the bullion market, as evidenced by declines in exchange-traded fund and futures holdings, has begun to reverse.

In ETF flows, gold holdings rose for the first time since May 26, up about 70,000 ounces to 64.542 million ounces, bringing the net change in holdings for the year to -0.73 percent, from -0.66 percent a week ago. [GOL/ETF]

Palladium rose modestly, while platinum slipped, with both having posted sharp declines on Wednesday data showed U.S. vehicle sales slowed far more than expected last month.

Palladium was quoted slightly higher at $767.97 an ounce, having fallen by nearly 1 percent on Wednesday when it finished at $765.98. Platinum fell to $1,811.24 from $1,814.25, having shed 0.7 percent on Wednesday. Prices at 4:52 p.m. EDT (2052 GMT)

LAST/ NET PCT YTD

CLOSE CHG CHG CHG US gold 1532.70 -10.50 -0.7% 7.8% US silver 36.202 -1.492 0.0% 17.0% US platinum 1817.80 -6.10 -0.3% 2.2% US palladium 768.40 -9.05 -1.2% -4.3% Gold 1533.25 -6.95 -0.5% 8.0% Silver 36.16 -0.63 -1.7% 17.2% Platinum 1811.49 -2.76 -0.2% 2.5% Palladium 767.05 1.07 0.1% -4.1% Gold Fix 1539.50 -1.25 -0.1% 9.2% Silver Fix 37.22 -73.00 -1.9% 21.5% Platinum Fix 1823.00 5.00 0.3% 5.3% Palladium Fix 775.00 4.00 0.5% -2.0% (Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper in London. Editing by Lisa Shumaker and David Gregorio)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.