US gold futures ended a tad higher in mixed trade on Tuesday as a dollar bounce prompted bullion investors to stay on the sidelines, but short-term consolidation could continue following a recent rally, traders said.
GOLD: December gold futures settled up 30 cents at $994.40 an ounce on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Ranged from $986.10 to $997.20.
SILVER: December silver ended down 1.7 cent at $16.178 an ounce on weak ETF demand. iShares Silver Trust, the world's largest silver-backed ETF, said its bullion holdings fell 1.5 percent to a four-month low as of September 25. Ranged from $16.010 to $16.320. COMEX estimated 1 pm volume at 21,832 lots. Spot silver was at $16.14, versus its previous finish of 16.14 an ounce.
PLATINUM: January platinum finished down $12.60 at $1,278.20 an ounce, as the market fell in tandem with other metals. Spot platinum was at $1,266.50, compared with its previous finish of $1,273.50.
PALLADIUM: December palladium closed down $3.90, or 1.3 percent, at $290 an ounce, down with platinum. Spot palladium was at $286, against its previous close of $286.