US gold futures ended near its highest level in three weeks and silver rose toward a 30-year high on Wednesday, as a weaker dollar lifted the precious metals in thin volume ahead of the year end. COMEX February gold futures settles up $7.90 or 0.6 percent at $1,413.50 an ounce on the COMEX division of the NYMEX. Ranged from $1,401.50 to $1,414.90 an ounce.
COMEX gold volume at nearly 70,000 lots, about two-thirds lighter than average for the past 30 days but in line with lower turnover for most of the commodity complex between the Christmas and New Year holidays - preliminary Reuters data. Spot gold rose 0.5 percent to $1,411.91 an ounce by 2:02 EST (1902 GMT).
COMEX March silver ended up 38.1 cents or 1.3 percent at $30.704 an ounce, as silver outperformed gold as it has for the past few months. Ranged from $30.145 to $30.720 an ounce. Spot silver climbed 1 percent to $29.24 an ounce. NYMEX April platinum finished up $3 at $1,760.20 an ounce on an industrial-metal rally. Spot platinum inches up 0.1 percent to $1,754.49 an ounce. NYMEX March palladium closed up $6.20 at $793.40 an ounce, near $800 which would be the highest level in 9 years. Spot palladium rises 0.4 percent to $787.97 an ounce.