The spot price of gold was softer on Monday afternoon after the metal traded to $545,46 a troy ounce, the highest level in almost half a century, on fund buying as well as momentum from Friday’s sharp rally, traders said.
At 12.55pm, gold was quoted at $540,92/oz, up $1,67/oz from its previous close.
“Gold went to $544/oz earlier in the day on thin trade, with Tokyo being closed for a public holiday. Trade on Friday was largely fund driven and pretty crazy, with gold moving from $523/oz to $540/oz in a day. Gold was also helped by a weaker United States dollar after worse-than-anticipated US data,” a Switzerland-based trader said.
“The gold market looks very good. Within the first four trading days of the year, gold has moved from $517/oz to $540/oz — a $20/oz-odd move. Gold should have a correction down to $510/oz or even lower to $500/oz, which I don’t think will break. For a healthy market, this should happen,” he added.
“Gold is likely to trade in a range between $500/oz and $550/oz for the foreseeable future,” the trader said.
“Gold is higher purely on fund buying as well as concerns about raising energy costs. There are also concerns about a weaker US dollar on expectations that the US interest-rate cycle is coming to an end. The gold market is in the hands of the funds,” said Absa gold trader Byron Woods in Johannesburg.
Brent crude was last quoted at $62,91 a barrel, up $0,19 from the previous close, while the euro was last at $1,2087 from the European unit’s Friday close of $1,2144.
On Friday, the euro strengthened to $1,2175, the currency’s best level since early October 2005, and Brent crude increased to $63,16 a barrel, also the highest since October 2005.
Gold prices could rise substantially higher from current levels to about $600/oz during 2006, London-based analysts for Numis Securities wrote.
At 12.55pm, platinum was up $3,50/oz from its previous close at $999/oz. Earlier on Monday, platinum soared to a four-week high of $1Â 000,50/oz.
“Platinum has gone higher on the back of a surge in the whole precious-metals complex, with gold $10/oz higher than Friday afternoon and silver also higher,” said London-based HSBC analyst Alan Williamson.
“The outlook for platinum is difficult to call, but with all the fund enthusiasm, platinum is more likely to move higher than lower,” he added.
Platinum is largely used to the manufacture of jewellery and auto catalysts. More than 75% of the world’s primary supply of platinum comes from South Africa.
Palladium was last at $275/oz, up $5,50/oz from the previous close, and rhodium was unchanged at $3Â 000/oz. Palladium and rhodium are both largely used in the manufacture of auto catalysts. — I-Net Bridge