Gold Prices Pare Gains as Dow Hits All-Time High (Update 1)

Updated from 10:36 a.m. ET with settlement prices and comments from a precious metals analyst

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Gold prices pared early Tuesday gains as record all-time highs for the Dow Jones Industrial Average grabbed investors from the yellow metal into equities.

Gold for April delivery added $2.50 to settle at $1,574.90 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The gold price traded as high as $1,585.80 and as low as $1,571.10 an ounce, while the spot price was increasing $2.20, according to Kitco's gold index.

"The paring of gold gains today was caused by the headwinds of a strong stock market as funds rushed to better performing assets," George Gero, precious metals strategist at RBC Wealth Management, said in a note on Tuesday afternoon.

Silver prices for May delivery ticked higher by 11 cents to close at $28.60 an ounce, while the U.S. dollar index was falling 0.07% to $82.10.

Gold posted wider gains in the morning as the Dow Jones Industrial Average breached its previous all-time high of 14,164.53 points, set Oct. 9, 2007. The precious metal came off its intraday highs as equities showed few signs of a pullback.

The Chinese government announced overnight it would implement a new stimulus initiative to bolster the economy there. The country reiterated a growth target of 7.5% for the year.

Fresh buyers from Asia and a weaker U.S. dollar had boosted gold prices to session highs during morning trading.

"This morning's rally was basically due to a little weakness in the dollar, and of course China," Gero said in an interview. "First of all, China is looking at 7.5% growth, China is possibly going to approve a gold ETF, and then, so, we had some Far East buying."

The Institute for Supply Management reported that its non-manufacturing business activity index registered at 56, which beat by a point the consensus among economists.

Gold mining stocks were mixed on Tuesday. Shares of Randgold Resources (GOLD) were adding 1.2%, but shares of Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM) were shedding 1.2%.

Among volume leaders, Yamana Gold (AUY) was off 0.47%.

Gold ETF SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) was gaining 0.17%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) was tacking on 0.07%.

-- Written by Joe Deaux in New York.

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