In the energy market Friday, oil moved higher, with crude for December delivery closing at $67.81/barrel, up $1.85. November reformulated gasoline fell 2.57 cents, to $1.4413/gallon.
Gold was slightly higher in Hong Kong and early London trading on Wednesday, then rose steadily during the NYMEX session before leveling off through the Globex and finishing at $880.10/oz., up $13.50. Overnight, gold has fallen off.
Crude oil for July delivery traded at an all-time high of $139.12 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange today (Friday), after the U.S. dollar nosedived on speculation that the European Central Bank would raise its key lending rate and on worries that a bigger-than-expected spike in unemployment meant the U.S. economy was far weaker than feared.
Gold was steady to higher through the far East and most of London trading yesterday, but at about 9:30 of the New York session it plunged, bottoming at $877 before it climbed through the NYMEX, only to sag again in the Globex and finish at $881.30/oz., down $9.00. Overnight, gold has fallen off.
After bottoming at $870 at the open of London trading yesterday, gold finally decided it was time to add some value, and it moved slowly but steadily higher from there to the close of the NYMEX, after which it leveled off and cruised into a finish at $886.10/oz., up $8.80. For the week, gold gave up 4.1%.
Gold hung in at $900 until London opened, then declined modestly until about an hour into the New York session, after which it was hammered, falling as low as $873 before making a small comeback during the Globex to finish at $877.00/oz., down $22.90. Overnight, gold has been flat.
All last week I expected the bullion banks to pull the pin on both gold and silver because of options expiry yesterday.
Gold held steady from the far East through London trading on Tuesday, but once the NYMEX opened it fell like a stone, and a modest rally off of $905 was snuffed out during the Globex, as it finished at $904.40/oz., down $19.80 from Friday. Overnight, gold has continued to decline.
Gold didn’t do a lot on Friday, but silver definitely had a mind of its own. It rose throughout the Far East and Europe, but ran into a not-for-profit seller at 9:00 a.m. New York time.
Gold fell to $915 in Hong Kong, but that would prove to be the low for the day, as it edged steadily higher to the mid-point of the NYMEX on Friday, nearly touching $929 before easing into a close on the Globex at $924.20/oz., up $3.80. For the week, gold added 2.5%.