Gold, silver prices tread water ahead of holidays, await fresh news

(Kitco News) – Gold and silver prices are trading not far from unchanged levels on the day, in early U.S. futures trading Thursday. The safe-haven metal bulls have shown resilience recently, amid the keener risk appetite that has been prevalent in the market place the past few weeks—evidenced by U.S. stock indexes near record highs. February gold futures were last down $0.10 an ounce at 1,478.60. March Comex silver prices were last down $0.034 at $17.015 an ounce.

Asian and European stock indexes were mixed to weaker overnight. The U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward slightly higher openings and near this week’s record highs when the New York day session begins. Traders and investors are turning their attention to the upcoming holidays, so trading interest and volumes are likely to wane the next couple weeks.

The global market place appears to have so far taken in stride the U.S. House of Representatives’ impeachment of President Trump, which had been fully expected for weeks.

In overnight news, Sweden’s central bank (Riksbank) raised its key interest rate to zero percent. This has many market watchers thinking other major central banks of the world which have negative interest rates are also on a path to raise their interest rates. The Bank of England concludes its monetary policy meeting later today, with no changes expected. Earlier Thursday the Bank of Japan left its monetary policy unchanged, with its key interest rate at 0.1%.

The key “outside markets” today see the U.S. dollar index slightly up, as the greenback bulls are having a good week. Meantime, Nymex crude oil prices are near steady and trading around $61.00 a barrel after hitting a three-month high Wednesday.

U.S. economic data due for release Thursday includes the weekly jobless claims report, the Philadelphia Fed business survey, leading economic indicators, existing home sales and international transactions (current account).

Technically, the gold bulls and bears are on a level overall near-term technical playing field amid choppy and sideways trading recently. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close in February futures above solid resistance at $1,500.00. Bears’ next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at the November low of $1,453.10. First resistance is seen at $1,485.00 and then at the December high of $1,491.60. First support is seen at this week’s low of $1,474.30 and then at $1,470.00. Wyckoff’s Market Rating: 5.0

March silver futures bears have the overall near-term technical advantage amid a more-than-three-month-old downtrend in place on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls’ next upside price breakout objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the December high of $17.415 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $16.00. First resistance is seen at last week’s high of $17.185 and then at the December high of $17.415. Next support is seen at $16.82 and then at the December low of $16.565. Wyckoff’s Market Rating: 4.5.

By Jim Wyckoff
For Kitco News

Contact jwyckoff@kitco.com
www.kitco.com

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