Gold, silver losses deepen after CME raises margin requirements

April gold futures fell 4.25% to $4,543.6 an ounce

Futures prices for gold and silver extended losses on Monday, weighed down by the CME Group’s decision to raise margin requirements following a sharp sell-off last week. Higher capital outlays could curb speculative trading and reduce liquidity.

April gold futures, the most active contract, fell 4.25%, or $201.5, to $4,543.6 an ounce.

Spot gold dropped 6.8% to $4,562.31 an ounce, while spot silver fell about 9.75% to $76.87 an ounce.

The US dollar index, which measures the currency against a basket of six major currencies, rose 0.2% to 97.2 points at 09:01 a.m. Mecca time.

March silver futures declined 6.2% to $74.36 an ounce. Spot platinum dropped roughly 10.25% to $1,970.08, and palladium fell 4.55% to $1,634.84.

The CME raised margins for gold futures to 8% from 6% and silver futures to 15% from 11%. The changes are set to take effect after market close on Monday, Reuters reported.