Gold, silver down even as USDX, bond yields see corrective pullbacks
Gold and silver prices are modestly lower in midday U.S. trading Wednesday and not far above this week's multi-month lows. Technical selling is featured amid fully bearish near-term charts. Downside corrections in the U.S. dollar index and in U.S. Treasury yields today did not help out the precious metals bulls. December gold was last down $3.00 at $1,838.30 and December silver was down $0.242 at $21.14.
Today's big downside miss for the ADP National Employment Report—at up 89,000 jobs versus the consensus forecast of up 160,000—gave the bond market bulls some hope Friday morning's more important U.S. jobs report shows a cooling U.S. economy. Traders are indeed starting to look ahead to Friday's September employment situation report from the Labor Department. The key non-farm payrolls number is expected to come in at up 170,000 compared to a rise of 187,000 in the September report.
Risk appetite is not keen at mid-week, following the ouster of the U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon. The AP said "it was a stunning moment for Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a punishment fueled by growing grievances but sparked by his decision to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open rather than risk a shutdown. Removing the speaker launches House Republicans into chaos heading into a busy fall when Congress will need to fund the U.S. government again or risk a mid-November shutdown."
And then there's the U.S. Treasury sell off that has the marketplace spooked. A Barron's headline today reads: "The bond and stock sell off has momentum. Here's how it could end." The story goes on to say "markets have decided to pay attention to the prospect of the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates higher for longer. And now that's all they can see." The story said the ways the bond market rout can end would be if the Fed stops or reduces its bond selling. Or, "something breaks." The article added weakening U.S. economic data may be needed to help turn the tide of the higher rates narrative. "Friday's September jobs report could be the place for that to begin."
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Asian and European stocks were mixed overnight. U.S. stock indexes are higher at midday on corrective bounces after hitting four-month lows earlier this week.
The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index weaker on a corrective pullback after hitting a 10-month high Tuesday. Nymex crude oil prices are sharply lower and trading around $85.25 a barrel. Meantime, the benchmark U.S. Treasury 10-year note yield is presently fetching 4.868% and has hit a 16-year high this week.
Technically, December gold futures prices were poised to close at a 10-month low close today. Bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. An accelerating five-month-old downtrend is in place on the daily bar chart. However, the market is well short-term oversold and due for a decent corrective bounce very soon. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $1,900.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,800.00. First resistance is seen at $1,850.00 and then at this week's high of $1,864.70. First support is seen at this week's low of $1,830.90 and then at $1,825.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 1.0.
December silver futures prices hit another 6.5-month low today. The silver bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. A nine-week-old downtrend is in place on the daily bar chart. However, the market is short-term oversold and due for a corrective bounce very soon. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $23.00. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at the March low of $20.615. First resistance is seen at today's high of $21.57 and then at $22.00. Next support is seen at today's low of $20.85 and then at $20.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.0.
December N.Y. copper closed down 350 points at 358.60 cents today. Prices closed near mid-range and hit another 10-month low today. The copper bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a choppy, two-month-old downtrend on the daily bar chart. Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at last week's high of 378.60 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at 350.00 cents. First resistance is seen at Tuesday's high of 364.80 cents and then at 370.00 cents. First support is seen at today's low of 354.90 cents and then at 350.00 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.0.
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Jim Wyckoff
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