
Gold Slips as Consumer Sentiment Improves
NEW YORK (
) --
were slipping on Friday after a stronger-than-anticipated consumer sentiment report suggested the economy is sustaining a trend of recovery.
Gold for August delivery at the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange was falling $10.90 to $1,317.90 an ounce. The
traded as high as $1,350.50 and as low as $1,311.90 an ounce, while the spot price was sliding $14.63.
The Reuter's/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index climbed to 85.1 in July, up from 83.9 in June. It's the best reading of consumer strength since July of 2007.
Investors often invest in gold as a safe haven against economic weakness.
for September delivery were losing 46 cents to $19.70 an ounce, while the
was decreasing 0.07% to $81.71.
Gold is down more than 1% this week, but has gained more than 8.5% since hitting a 2-month low on June 27.
Despite this week's stumble, the increase since June has boosted some analysts' outlook for the yellow metal.
"To me it looks like we're going to see higher prices at least up until about $1,400," Michael Smith, president of T&K Futures and Options, said in a phone call. "I don't know if that's going to hold or not if we can't get there, but if this dollar keeps falling like it is I don't see why not."
Gold mining stocks were mostly lower on Friday, in line with the broader equity markets and COMEX gold futures. Shares of
AngloGold Ashanti
(AU) - Get Report
were down 3.1%, and shares of
Newmont Mining
(NEM) - Get Report
were off 2.4%.
Among volume leaders,
Goldcorp
(GG)
was losing 0.14%.
Gold ETF
SPDR Gold Trust
(GLD) - Get Report
was declining 0.83%, while
iShares Gold Trust
(IAU) - Get Report
was off 0.86%.
-- Written by Joe Deaux in New York.
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