US gold futures ended up on Tuesday as a weaker dollar stirred buying interest, but it failed to rally further after well-received US manufacturing data and relative peace in Egypt dampened the precious metal's safe-haven appeal. COMEX April gold futures settled up $5.8 at $1,340.30 an ounce on the COMEX division of the NYMEX. Ranged from $1,326 to $1,344.10 an ounce.
COMEX total gold futures volume at 150,000 lots, 20 percent lower than its 30-day average - preliminary Reuters data. Spot gold rose 0.4 percent to $1,337.21 an ounce by 2:24 pm EST (1925 GMT). COMEX March silver ended up 34.5 cents or 1.2 percent at $28.514 an ounce as a US equities rally boosted industrial commodities. Ranged from $27.85 to $28.635.
COMEX estimated silver futures volume was 10 percent higher than 30-day average - preliminary Reuters data. Spot silver climbed 1.4 percent to $28.43 an ounce. NYMEX April platinum finished up $32.1 or 1.8 percent at $1,833 an ounce on better economic sentiment. Spot platinum rose 1.6 percent to $1,820.50 an ounce. NYMEX March palladium closed up $3.45 at $823.55 an ounce on platinum's gains. Spot palladium gained 0.8 percent to $818.47.