10 Feb 2005 17:54
10.02.2005 16:46:26 NY gold jumps with euro early after US trade data
NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters) - U.S. gold futures bolted higher but held just below key resistance on Thursday morning, tracking a short-covering bounce in the euro, as the dollar failed to capitalize on news the massive U.S. trade gap narrowed in December, dealers said.
Silver, platinum and palladium prices got a boost from gold's gains.
April delivery gold at the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division rose $2.50 to $417 an ounce by 10:09 a.m. (1509 GMT), dealing from $413.10 to $417.30 -- its highest mark since Tuesday.
Dealers said gold continued to largely follow the euro's moves, with the metal climbing off a prior 4-1/2-month low, but prices still kept to a $412-to-$418 consolidation band.
"The dollar firmed up on the economic data, but then it fell -- and gold's euro- and dollar-sensitive," James Quinn, commodities commentator at AG Edwards & Sons, said.
"Also, our ability to hold yesterday's lows at $412 also prompted a little bit of buying and I think we're going to work up to $418."
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in December to $56.4 billion, just slightly below forecasts for $57 billion, as oil import prices had their biggest monthly fall in almost 14 years.
But the annual trade gap still widened more than 24 percent in 2004 to a record $617.7 billion, the Commerce Department said. The November trade gap was revised down to $59.3 billion from $60.3 previously, but it remained a record, with December's gap the second highest.
Dealers said they saw fund-type technical buying in both the euro and the dollar when either currency made a significant dip, which helped keep gold rangebound.
In recent sessions, the dollar had risen to a two-month peak versus the yen and three-month highs against the euro, as worries eased about the massive U.S. deficits.
Midmorning in New York, the euro rallied to $1.2885, up sharply from around $1.2808 late on Wednesday.
Brokers pegged support in COMEX April gold at $410 and first resistance up at $418.
Gold futures hit a 16-1/2-year high near $460 an ounce in early December, boosted by a declining U.S. currency, which makes dollar-denominated gold more affordable for non-U.S. buyers.
Although talk continued to swirl in the market about possible International Monetary Fund gold sales or revaluation down the road, currency moves were seen dominating for now.
Trading has been subdued this week as Chinese dealers were mostly absent and markets were shut in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for Lunar New Year holidays. Japan also will shut Friday for a three-day national holiday.
But top consumer India has been a buyer as lower metal prices spurred physical demand, dealers said.
Spot gold rose to $415.35/416.10 an ounce from New York's closing level on Wednesday at $412.75/413.50. Bullion hit a one-month low at $410.40 Wednesday. Thursday's afternoon fix in London was at $415.50.
March silver surged 17.0 cents to $6.76 an ounce, dealing between $6.57 and $6.77. Spot silver fetched $6.73/76, above $6.56/59 late on Wednesday. The fix was at $6.5775.
April platinum rose $13.70 to $865 an ounce, rising from a previous one-month low at $847. Spot platinum firmed to $856/861.
March palladium gained $1 to $181 an ounce. Spot edged to $178/182.