A report showing eroding consumer confidence sent gold up fractionally in Friday trading. The metal closed up 2.9% for the week.
The University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment index dropped to a reading of 73.2 in October, down from 77.5 in September. That marked its lowest reading since December 2012.
Gold futures for December delivery edged up 0.2% to $1,352.50 per ounce on Friday, according to CME Group. Gold traded as high as $1,356.40 and as low as $1,335.30. Bullion closed in London at $1,348, according to BullionVault.
Silver futures for December slid 0.8% to $22.64 per ounce. Friday’s high for silver was $22.76, while the low was $22.26.
Metal funds were mixed in Friday trading.
- The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) rose 0.4%.
- The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) added 0.4%.
- The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) slid 0.7%.
Mining ETFs gained during the day.
- The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) gained 0.7%.
- The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) moved up 0.7%.
- The Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) improved 1.1%.
Gold stocks mostly advanced on Friday.
- Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM) added 1%.
- Barrick Gold (ABX) edged up 0.3%.
- Eldorado Gold (EGO) rose 0.9%.
- Goldcorp (GG) increased 0.5%.
- Kinross Gold (KGC) rose 0.8%.
- Newmont Mining (NEM) climbed 0.6%.
- NovaGold Resources (NG) dropped 2.1%.
- Yamana Gold (AUY) moved up 0.6%.
Silver mining shares mostly improved during the day.
- Coeur d’Alene Mines (CDE) rose 0.7%.
- Hecla Mining (HL) fell 0.6%.
- Pan American Silver (PAAS) added 0.8%.
- Silver Wheaton (SLW) moved up 0.5%.
- Silver Standard Resources (SSRI) gained 0.8%.
As of this writing, Christopher Freeburn did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Adrian Ash of BullionVault contributed to this report.