Gold, Silver, Miners Higher on Stronger Euro

Gold and silver were moving higher Friday morning as the euro strengthened against the dollar. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron met and continued to agree to disagree about implementing a financial transactions tax in the European Union, while the Conference Board reported a greater-than-expected 0.9% rise in its Leading Economic Index for October.

Spot gold was around 0.25% higher at 10:15 a.m. Friday, while spot silver was up about 1.36%.

Spot gold was bid at $1,724.60 per ounce, with an ask price of $1,725.60, up on the day so far but down around $20 per ounce during the past 24 hours. The afternoon reference price fix was set at $1,719, and spot gold traded as high as $1,731.40 and as low as $1,715 in New York, according to Kitco market data.

Spot silver was bid at $32.14 per ounce with an ask price of $32.24. The morning high as of time of writing was $32.33, and the low was $31.64. Monday’s reference price was set at $32.25 in the London a.m.

Gold and silver trusts were moving higher to close out the week.

• The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) was around 0.9% higher.
• The iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:IAU) was between 0.8% and 0.9% higher.
• The iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:SLV) was up between 2.6% and 2.75%.

Gold and silver mining ETFs were recovering ground and moving higher as well.

• The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDX) was up around 0.8%.
• The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDXJ) was between 0.4% and 0.5% higher.
• The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE:SIL) was up nearly 1%.

Shares of gold miners were showing strong gains, NovaGold Resources (AMEX:NG) in particular.

• Agnico-Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) was more than 1.4% higher.
• Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:ABX) was nearly 1.6% higher.
• Goldcorp (NYSE:GG) was up 1.2%.
• Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE:NEM) was some 0.2% higher.
• NovaGold Resources was sharply higher, up around 4.3%

Silver miners’ shares were heading higher.

• Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp. (NYSE:CDE) was around 1.7% higher.
• Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) was up between 1.5% and 1.8%.
• Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ:PAAS) was about 1.3% higher.
• Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE:SLW) was nearly 2% higher.
• Silver Standard Resources Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRI) was up over 2%.

As of this writing, Andrew Burger did not own a position in any of the aforementioned stocks.