US gold futures ended higher on Monday as a lower dollar against the euro and crude oil gains prompted buying of bullion as an alternative investment. August settles up $5.70 at $963.70 an ounce on the COMEX division of New York Mercantile Exchange. The session low was $955.70.
Bullion traded as high as $969 on the back of an early session oil rally. US crude futures ends up $2.16 at $131.04 a barrel on Monday. Non-commercial net long position in COMEX gold futures up 202,783 lots in the week to July 15, higher than 189,602 lots a week earlier - CFTC.
Estimated final volume 119,486 lots, while options turnover at 6,386 lots. COMEX gold futures open interest up 976 lots to 496,778 lots as of Friday, July 18. Spot gold at $961.75/963.15 at 2:15 pm EDT (1815 GMT), compared with $955.45/957.05 late Friday. London's afternoon gold fix $960.50.
September silver ends up 22.5 cents, or 1.2 percent, at $18.425 an ounce. Ranged from $18.200 to $18.535. Estimated final volume at 15,740 lots. Spot silver at $18.35/18.43, compared with $18.12/18.20 late Friday. October platinum finishes down $4.30 at $1,851.00 an ounce.
Platinum bounces after last week's decline due to a lack of investment interest. Spot platinum at $1,837.00/1,857.00. September palladium closes $1.60 lower at $415.00 an ounce, following platinum's weakness. Spot palladium at $410.50/418.50.