Gold, Miners Gain as Greece Scraps Debt Deal Referendum

U.S. economic data that on the whole was positive supported gold, stocks and
commodities Thursday, but it was word that Greeces leaders would scrap a
national referendum on the latest euro zone debt resolution plan that buoyed
investors. U.S. jobless claims for last week fell below the key 400,000 mark,
while the four-week moving average came in at 404,500. The October employment
report is due out Friday. Activity in the U.S. service sector fell to its lowest
level in three months in October, but new factory orders rose unexpectedly,
according the ISM report on manufacturing and services. Spot gold was showing
gains of more than 1.25% as of 11:20 a.m., having hit a high of $1,767.80 per
ounce and a low of $1,745.50 Thursday morning. Spot gold was bid at $1,759.50
with an ask price of $1,760.50. The p.m. reference price was fixed at $1,758,
according to Kitco market data . Spot silver was slightly weaker, down around
0.1% and trading at $34.24 Bid, $34.34 Ask. The morning high as of time of
writing was $35 per ounce, and the low was $33.75. Thursdays reference price was
set at $34.72 in the London a.m. Gold trusts were showing healthy gains, and the
iShares Silver Trust (NYSE: SLV ) also was higher. The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:
GLD ) was around 1.1% higher. The iShares Gold Trust (NYSE: IAU ) was around
1.1% higher. The iShares Silver Trust was up about 0.25%. Gold and silver mining
ETFs were moving up sharply. The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDX ) was
some 1.8% higher. The Market Vector Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDXJ ) was up
nearly 1.6%. The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE: SIL ) was around 2.35%
higher. Shares of gold miners also were putting up morning gains. Agnico-Eagle
Mines (USA) (NYSE: AEM ) was 1.8% higher. Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: ABX ) was
around 1.6% higher. Goldcorp (NYSE: GG ) was up about 0.8%. Newmont Mining Corp.
(NYSE: NEM ) was up more than 2%. NovaGold Resources (USA) (AMEX: NG ) was up
more than 0.8%. Silver miners shares also were recovering nicely. Coeur DAlene
Mines Corp. (NYSE: CDE ) was more than 3% higher. Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL ) was
up between 3.4% and 3.6%. Pan American Silver Corp. (USA) (NASDAQ: PAAS ) was up
nearly 1%. Silver Wheaton Corp. (USA) (NYSE: SLW ) was more than 1% higher.
Silver Standard Resources Inc. (USA) (NASDAQ: SSRI ) was some 2.4% higher. As of
this writing, Andrew Burger did not own a position in any of the aforementioned
stocks.