After the previous two-week rally, it was perhaps natural for precious metals to consolidate this week. Gold, which closed on a high note last Friday, lost $23 to $1281 by early European trade this morning (Friday), and silver 34 cents to $17.08. Trade on Comex was subdued, and the reason behind the pause appears to be a continuing rally in the dollar.

Gold fell $4.10 to $1276.80 in Asia, but it then climbed to as high as $1290.00 in late morning New York trade and ended with a gain of 0.55%. Silver rose to as high as $17.258 and ended with a gain of 1.35%.

Gold fell $8.60 to $1277.00 at about 8:15AM EST, but it then chopped back higher in New York and ended with a loss of just 0.37%. Silver slipped to as low as $16.901 and ended with a loss of 0.23%.

With a per-ounce price of $17.41 for silver futures as of Friday, analysts say the white metal is poised for a big climb, particularly as the gold-to-silver ratio stands well above historical averages. “Silver is definitely undervalued compared to gold and as a stand-alone investment. I consider it likely to be the most undervalued asset in the general investment markets,” says Paul Mladjenovic, author of Precious Metals Investing For Dummies.

Gold fell $12.70 to $1281.80 in late morning New York trade before it bounced back higher in the next few hours, but it still ended with a loss of 0.69%. Silver slipped to as low as $16.969 and ended with a loss of 1.05%.

Gold gained $2.40 to $1306 in early New York trade, but it then fell back off into the close and ended near its late session low of $1291.80 with a loss of 0.7%. Silver slipped to as low as $17.137 and ended with a loss of 0.98%.