• Print
• E-Mail

Meanwhile, the Labor Department reported Tuesday that U.S. producer prices rose by a bigger-than-expected 1.2 percent in July, driven higher by prices for energy, cars, food and other products.

In another report, the Commerce Department estimated that U.S. home builders sharply reduced the number of new homes started in July and dropped the number of new single-family permits to the lowest level in 26 years.

Other precious metals were mixed. Silver futures for December delivery gained 0.3 cent to $13.22 an ounce after earlier dropping to $12.52. Platinum's October contract closed down 3.1 percent, or $42.60, at $1,351.30 an ounce. September palladium futures lost $3.05 to close at $283.85 an ounce.

The Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index a benchmark gauging the prices of major commodities gained 1.3 percent.