US gold futures ended higher on Wednesday as a broad resurgence of risk appetite prompted buying of bullion along with other assets ahead of Friday's US job report. COMEX April gold futures settled up $7.60 at $1,423.80 an ounce. Ranged from $1,412 to $1,430.30 an ounce.
COMEX gold futures were again one of the most actively trading commodity markets, with volume topped 200,000 lots, one of the heaviest trading days year to date. Spot gold gained 0.4 percent to $1,422 an ounce by 3:33 pm EDT (1933 GMT), having earlier touched a high of $1,430.
COMEX May silver ended up 52.4 cents or 1.4 percent at $37.511 an ounce, outperforming gold. Ranged from $36.90 to $37.77 an ounce. Silver climbed 0.7 percent to $37.33 an ounce, sending the gold/silver ratio to below 38, the lowest level since 1983. NYMEX July platinum finished up $30 or 1.7 percent at $1,774.10 an ounce on precious metals gains. Spot platinum gained 2 percent to $1,768.50 an ounce. NYMEX June palladium closed up $5.15 at $758.10 an ounce on platinum's rise. Spot palladium rose 0.3 percent to $750.72.