In normal trading hours Wednesday, precious metals bounced from prior-day losses with gains ranging from 0.4% for gold to 4.5% for palladium. They advanced further in after-hours trade when the Fed announced another hike in interest rates. Gold for April delivery rose $8.50 to settle at $1,949.60 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold futures traded between $1,936.50 and $1,982.30. They dropped 2.1% on Tuesday and they gained 0.5% on Monday, closing at their best price since April 18. Following a two-day monetary policy meeting, the Fed’s FOMC raised the benchmark federal-funds rate ... (full story)