Gold dropped sharply in Wednesday trading as investors contemplated the likely winding down of Federal Reserve stimulus efforts this year.
As the Fed slows its monthly bond-buying, the risk of rapid inflation dissipates, diminishing the precious metal’s appeal as a safe haven investment. Gold has fallen almost 23% during the current calendar quarter and nearly 40% since its September 2011 record high.
Gold futures for July delivery dropped 3.6% to $1,229.60 per ounce on Wednesday, according to . Gold traded as high as $1,276.20 and as low as $1,223.20. Gold bullion closed in London at $1,228, according to BullionVault.
Silver futures for July delivery plunged 4.8% to $18.59 per ounce. Wednesday’s high for silver was $19.58 while the low was $18.36.
Gold and silver funds declined in Wednesday trading.
- The SPDR Gold Trust () sank 4.2%.
- The iShares Gold Trust () fell 4.3%.
- The iShares Silver Trust () plummeted 5.4%.
Gold and silver mining ETFs retreated during the day.
- The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF () dove 6%.
- The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF () fell 6.6%.
- The Global X Silver Miners ETF () dropped 6.2%.
Gold mining shares sank on Wednesday.
- Agnico-Eagle Mines () fell 4.2%.
- Barrick Gold () plunged 8.3%.
- Eldorado Gold () slid 3.8%.
- Goldcorp () declined 4.6%.
- Kinross Gold () dropped 5.2%.
- Newmont Mining () moved down 5.9%.
- NovaGold Resources () faded 4.7%.
- Yamana Gold () pulled back 4.6%.
Silver mining shares slumped during the day.
- Coeur d’Alene Mines () declined 5.4%.
- Hecla Mining () dropped 6.6%.
- Pan American Silver () slipped 3.8%.
- Silver Wheaton () plunged 7.8%.
- Silver Standard Resources () fell 4.7%.
As of this writing, Christopher Freeburn did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Adrian Ash of contributed to this report.
