Gold price sharply up after "Goldilocks" U.S. jobs report

Gold and silver prices are sharply higher in early U.S. trading Friday, boosted by a U.S. jobs report that landed in the sweet spot of marketplace expectations for the report. Silver prices notched a three-week high. Strong gains in crude oil prices and a weaker U.S. dollar index are also bullish outside market forces for the metals on this day. Short covering by futures traders is featured in both precious metals markets to end the trading week. December gold was last up $28.40 at $1,659.60 and December silver was up $0.785 at $20.22.

The just-released monthly U.S. employment report for October from the Labor Department showed the key non-farm payrolls number up 261,000, which was above the expected rise of 205,000 and compares to the gain of 263,000 seen in the September report. Gold prices added to their solid overnight gains after the release of the report, as analysis are saying this is a Goldilocks report that is "not too hot and not too cold"—meaning it is not too strong to prompt the Federal Reserve to become more aggressive in tightening its monetary policy, nor is it too weak to cause more concern about a U.S. economic recession.

Global stock markets were mostly higher overnight. U.S. stock indexes are headed for higher openings when the New York day session begins, on corrective bounces from the selling pressure seen the past three sessions, and on the U.S. job report numbers landing in the "sweet spot" of the marketplace expectations.

In overnight news, the Euro zone September producer price index came in at up 41.9%, year-on-year, which was near expectations. Soaring energy costs in Europe are driving the PPI sharply up.

Gold price to trade at $1,700 next year as Fed, dollar outlooks shift, says Capital Economics

The silver market bulls have outperformed gold bulls recently. One reason may be rising demand for India. Broker SP Angel today said in an email dispatch: "Silver India's insatiable appetite for silver eats into global warehouse inventories. Analysts expect Indian silver consumption to haveincreased over 80% this year. Indian silver buying was hit hard over the two covid years but 2022 purchases have seen a major jump in demand. Traders are reporting London and Hong Kong warehouse inventory levels, as pent-up demand feeds into the market."

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index lower on a corrective pullback from strong gains Thursday. Nymex crude oil prices are sharply higher and trading around $91.50 a barrel. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note is yielding around 4.2%.

Other U.S. economic data due for release Friday includes the global services purchasing managers' index.

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Technically, the gold futures bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $1,700.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,600.00. First resistance is seen at this week's high of $1,673.10 and then at $1,679.40. First support is seen at $1,650.00 and then at the overnight low of $1,631.10. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.0

The silver bulls have regained the overall near-term technical advantage. A choppy uptrend is in place on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the October high of $21.31. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $18.00. First resistance is seen at $20.50 and then at $21.00. Next support is seen at $20.00 and then at the overnight low of $19.425. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0.

By Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

Tim Moseley

Gold, silver down amid strong greenback, rising bond yields

Gold and silver prices are lower in midday U.S. trading Thursday, with gold hitting a six-week low in overnight dealings. Silver prices have rebounded well off daily lows. Very sharp gains in the U.S. dollar index and rising U.S. Treasury yields, along with lower crude oil prices, pressured the precious metals markets today. December gold was last down $22.20 at $1,627.80 and December silver was down $0.239 at $19.36.

A still-hawkish Federal Reserve is keeping the metals market bulls squelched. The Fed's Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement Wednesday afternoon initially was viewed as less hawkish. The U.S. central bank raised its main Fed funds rate by 0.75%, to 4.0%, as expected. The FOMC statement said the Fed will take into consideration the health of the U.S. economy after its recent "cumulative tightening." The markets initially read that statement as leaning less hawkish on U.S. monetary policy going forward. The U.S. dollar index sold off and U.S. Treasury yields dropped, while U.S. stock indexes and gold rallied. However, once Fed Chairman Powell started speaking at his press conference and took a still-hard line on the Fed's intent to keep raising rates to stop problematic price inflation, the aforementioned markets promptly reversed course. "Powell dropped the hammer," quipped one business TV anchor. Powell in his presser implied the Fed's terminal interest rate may have to rise higher than earlier Fed expectations—likely above 5%–and stay at that higher level for longer. Notions of a Fed pivot on its aggressive monetary policy tightening were dashed at Powell's presser. More hawkish central banks and in turn weaker economies also suggest less consumer and commercial demand for the metals.

Expect a '75 bps hike,' as Powell zeroes in on inflation – Chance Finucane

Global stock markets were mostly lower overnight. U.S. stock indexes are lower at midday. Risk-off attitudes are keener in the marketplace late this week.

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index very sharply higher. Nymex crude oil prices are lower and trading around $89.00 a barrel. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note is yielding 4.149%.

Focus quickly turns to Friday's monthly U.S. employment report for October from the Labor Department. The key non-farm payrolls number is expected to come in at up 205,000, compared to a rise of 263,000 in the September report.

Technically, the gold futures bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a longer-term downtrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $1,700.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,600.00. First resistance is seen at today's high of $1,643.20 and then at $1,650.00. First support is seen at today's low of $1,618.30 and then at $1,600.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 1.0.

The silver bulls have the slight overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are still in a choppy two-month-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the October high of $21.31. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $18.00. First resistance is seen at $19.60 and then at this week's high of $20.11. Next support is seen at $19.00 and then at today's low of $18.805. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.5.

December N.Y. copper closed down 385 points at 342.95 cents today. Prices closed near mid-range today. The copper bears have the overall near-term technical advantage. However, recent price action suggests a market bottom is in place. Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at the September high of 369.25 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the September low of 324.30 cents. First resistance is seen at this week's high of 350.85 cents and then at the October high of 359.30 cents. First support is seen at this week's low of 336.15 and then at the October low of 330.30 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 4.0.

By Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

Tim Moseley

Gold prices move near session highs as Federal Reserve raises interest rates 75 basis points

The gold market is seeing some new buying momentum as the Federal Reserve looks to slightly adjust its aggressive monetary policy stance.

In a widely anticipated move, the Federal Reserve raised its Fed Funds rate by 75 basis points. This is the fourth consecutive supersized rate hike this year. While the central bank remains focused on bringing inflation down, it does appear to be adjusting its stance.

"The Committee anticipates that ongoing increases in the target range will be appropriate in order to attain a stance of monetary policy that is sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to 2 percent over time. In determining the pace of future increases in the target range, the Committee will take into account the cumulative tightening of monetary policy, the lags with which monetary policy affects economic activity and inflation, and economic and financial developments.

Analysts and economists expected the Federal Reserve to signal a slowdown in its tightening cycle in December and through the early part of 2023

December gold futures last traded at $1,661.70 an ounce, up 0.77% on the day. "The market read that statement as leaning less hawkish on U.S. monetary policy going forward," said Jim Wyckoff, senior technical analyst at Kitco.com.

Katherine Judge, senior economist at CIBC, said that the more nuanced messaging in the statement gives the central bank a platform to slow the pace of rate hikes. However, she added that terminal rate expectations remain in place.

"Today's statement is still consistent with the median dot plot projections released back in September, which showed rates reaching 4.25-4.50% by year end (i.e. a further 50bp hike in December), and between 4.50-4.75% next year," she said in a note. "Our own forecast doesn't include that final 25bp hike in 2023, as we expect to see evidence that GDP and employment growth is slowing more than the Fed previously anticipated by then."

Some economists note that the Federal Reserve still sees resilient strength and high inflation in the economy. The Fed reiterated its stance that it is committed to brining inflation back down to its 2% objective.

"Recent indicators point to modest growth in spending and production. Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated, reflecting supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic, higher food and energy prices, and broader price pressures," the statement said. "The Committee is highly attentive to inflation risks."

Paul Ashworth, Chief North America Economist at Capital Economics, said that with interest rates in restrictive territory the U.S. central bank has room to slow the pace of its tightening.

“Barring another upside inflation surprise in the October and November CPI reports, which we can’t completely rule out, it looks like the Fed is laying the groundwork to shift down to a 50bp hike in December and, if we’re right that core inflation will start to show signs of slowing soon, a 25bp rate hike at the January meeting next year,” he said.

By Neils Christensen

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

Tim Moseley

Gold – Caution still warranted

The bear market rally currently transpiring in stocks has momentum on its side, with the upper range target at the cross-section between the upper resistance line and the 50-week moving average as the standing target. The below chart is an update of the S&P futures chart on a weekly basis; note the stochastic RSI looks like it wants to reach all the way to overbought as well.

Although Thursday’s action in gold looked constructive for a close over $1650 into the end of week, the opposite occurred when sellers knocked gold down $20 on the spot. The below weekly chart shows the importance of the $1650-85 range (highlighted in yellow). Gold bulls really want to see prices bottom out and make a run that can hold up. If the yellow highlighted area becomes firm as resistance after having served as support over the past two years, bulls will be in for a lower-priced opportunity as the door to $1,535 opens up.

Traders in metals derivatives might strongly consider taking out some downside insurance in this environment.

By Jonathan Da Silva

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

Tim Moseley

Price pressure on gold, silver as USDX, bond yields rebound

Gold and silver prices are moderately down in early U.S. trading Friday, once again falling victim to a higher U.S. dollar index and rising U.S. Treasury yields to end the trading week. December gold was last down $10.90 at $1,654.60 and December silver was down $0.199 at $19.29.

The geopolitical front is far from calm at present. However, there have been no major, new developments to shake up the marketplace. Thus, precious metals traders have recently been focusing mainly on the key outside markets for daily price direction. Next week’s Federal Reserve FOMC meeting will give traders and investors some fresh, major fundamental news to digest.

Global stock markets were mixed overnight. U.S. stock indexes are headed for weaker openings when the New York day session begins. The stock index bulls have been rattled late this week amid downbeat earnings reports from the technology sector, including Meta, whose stock price lost around one-fourth of its value Thursday.

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index higher. Nymex crude oil prices are weaker and trading around $88.25 a barrel. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note is yielding 4.004%.

U.S. economic data due for release Friday includes personal income and outlays, the employment cost index, pending home sales and the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey.

Technically, the gold futures bears have the firm overall near-term technical advantage. However, more upside price action in the near term would form a bullish double-bottom reversal pattern that would suggest a major market bottom is in place. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $1,700.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,600.00. First resistance is seen at the overnight high of $1,670.90 and then at this week’s high of $1,679.40. First support is seen at the overnight low of $1,649.50 and then at this week’s low of $1,641.20. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.5

The silver bears have the overall near-term technical advantage. However, recent price action suggests a market bottom is in place. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the October high of $21.31. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at the September low of $17.40. First resistance is seen at the overnight high of $19.62 and then at this week’s high of $19.765. Next support is seen at today’s low of $19.105 and then at $19.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 3.0.

By Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

Tim Moseley

Gold market sees muddle sentiment, but price needs to hold above $1,620 next week

Once again, gold is poised on a knife's edge as the prices end the week below $1,650 an ounce, and muddled market sentiment is unlikely to provide any clear direction for the precious metal next week.

Latest Kitco News Gold Survey shows that bullish analysts and retail investors have a slight advantage; however, there is no dominant conviction in the marketplace.

According to some analysts, many investors continue to sit on the sidelines, waiting for a clear indication that the Federal Reserve will slow the pace of its aggressive rate hikes by the end of the year. According to analysts, the Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting on Nov. 2 will be the driving force behind gold prices next week.

For most of the summer, investors have been continuously burned after chasing rumors that the Federal Reserve was close to pivoting. Sean Lusk, co-director of commercial hedging at Walsh Trading, said that he expects current market expectations to fade, similar to other market rumors. Lusk said he is expecting to see lower gold prices next week.

"Until we get clarity from the Federal Reserve, gold rallies will continue to be sold," he said. "I don't think we will get much clarity from the Fed next week. There is a cost to all money printing we have seen over the last two years, and we should expect to feel the cost longer than most expect."

Lusk added that he will be watching the $1,620 area closely. A break below would trigger a very bearish signal.

Kitco's weekly gold survey results revealed that Wall Street has a slightly bullish tilt on gold prices next week. Out of 17 analysts participating in the survey, seven analysts, or 41%, expect prices to rise next week. Meanwhile, six analysts, or 35%, were bearish in the near term and four analysts, or 24%, were neutral on gold.

Sentiment on Main Street was relatively similar. This week 473 respondents took part in online polls. A total of 200 voters, or 43%, called for gold to rise. Another 169, or 37%, predicted gold would fall. The remaining 94 voters, or 20%, called for a sideways market.

Phillip Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line futures, said that he remains neutral on gold in the near term as the Federal Reserve's rate hikes will continue to weigh on the precious metal.

"There is nothing stopping gold from going below $1,600 an ounce in the near term, and that's not a bold statement," he said. "However, if gold does drop, I would be looking to buy small positions. I would be looking to buy silver if the price dropped below $18 an ounce.

World Bank sees gold prices falling another 4% in 2023

For most bullish analysts, the growing expectations that the Fed will slow its rate hikes starting in December will support prices in a volatile environment.

"Technically, it looks like gold is slowly turning the corner. Gold appears likely to be volatile around next Wednesday's Fed decision which could potentially impact the trend in the US Dollar depending on whether the Fed is more hawkish or more dovish than expected and relative to other central banks," said Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at SIA Wealth Management.

Darin Newsom, president of Darin Newsom Analysis, is also expecting some volatility next week. However, he added that as long as gold can hold above its recent lows around $1,620 an ounce, then it will remain in an intermediate-term uptr

By Neils Christensen

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

Tim Moseley

Gold has respectable gains, but still based on dollar weakness and not buying

Golf futures basis the most active December 2022 Comex contract is currently up $11.20 and fixed at $1669.70. Noteworthy was today’s intraday high of $1679.40 which came in just below the first level of resistance at $1680. However, once again we can see that while gold’s gains are respectable, they are based entirely upon dollar weakness. Furthermore, market participants bid the precious metal lower.

According to Reuters, “Gold prices rose to a two-week high on Wednesday as the dollar and U.S. bond yields slipped on expectations the Federal Reserve will temper its aggressive rate-hike stance starting December.”

As of 4:05 PM EDT, the dollar index is down 1.290 points or 1.16% and fixed at 109.54. The lack of market participants bidding gold higher can be seen through the eyes of the Kitco Gold Index (KGX). The screen print above of the KGC was taken at 3:53 PM EDT and shows spot gold was currently fixed at $1665 with a net gain of $11.90. However, as we have seen on multiple occasions recently it was dollar weakness that moved spot gold pricing up by $17.20, and selling pressure taking gold lower by $5.30.

This clearly shows that market participants continue to have their primary focus on the pace and magnitude at which the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates. It is widely accepted that the Federal Reserve will raise rates by 75 basis points in November and for the most part, has already been factored into current market pricing. It is also widely believed that the Federal Reserve will continue to raise rates at the December FOMC meeting.

According to the FedWatch tool there is a 55% probability that the Federal Reserve will raise rates to between 425 and 450 basis points, and a 37.7% probability that they will raise rates to between 450 and 475 basis points in December.

In February 2023 there is no decisive consensus about the size of the rate hike. According to the CME’s FedWatch tool, there is a 26.8% probability that the Federal Reserve’s benchmark rate will be between 450 and 475 basis points, a 42.4% probability that the fed funds rates will be between 475 and 500 basis points, and a 23.7% probability that by the end of the year the benchmark rate will be between 500 and 525 basis points.

The uncertainty in regards to the magnitude of upcoming rate hikes is directly related to anticipating how the Federal Reserve’s will be modified as more data becomes available to them. This week there will be critical reports that will help shape the Federal Reserve’s decision on rate hikes in both November and December.

On Thursday the government will release its data on the third quarter GDP as well as updated figures on the national debt of the United States. On Friday the government will release its report on the core inflation numbers or PCE. This could provide key and important data that will guide what upcoming actions of the Federal Reserve might be.

The most important question is while economists and analysts are expecting to see an economic contraction based upon the rapid rate hikes that began in March. However, how inflationary pressures will react if we don’t see a reduction in inflation following five consecutive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve this year?

The fear remains that after all of the rate hikes by the Federal Reserve Friday’s report reveals it had only a nominal effect on lowering inflation.

By Gary Wagner

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

Tim Moseley

Gold’s tepid response to dollar weakness and geopolitical uncertainty

One might think that with the increased geopolitical uncertainty and recent dollar weakness that gold would have strong gains. However, that is absolutely not true in trading today. As of 5:15 PM EDT, the most active December contract of gold futures is currently up only $3.30 or +0.20% and fixed at $1657.40.

Fractional gains in gold today have occurred with extreme dollar weakness. The U.S. dollar index is currently down -1.02% and fixed at 110.77. To illustrate gold’s weakness in light of dollar weakness we simply need to compare spot gold pricing and dollar weakness through the eyes of the Kitco Gold Index (KGX). Currently, spot gold is fixed at $1653.10 which is a net gain of $3.40. On closer inspection, we can see that dollar weakness has added +$16.80, and normal trading has resulted in a decline of -$13.40 resulting in today’s tepid gains.

Geopolitical uncertainty escalates to an exceedingly high level

On top of today’s weak U.S. dollar which has added significant value to gold, the world is facing an escalating level of geopolitical uncertainty in both North Korea as well as the war in Ukraine.

On Tuesday the President of South Korea Yoon Suk-Yeol said that North Korea has completed its initial preparations for its seventh nuclear test. As reported by Bloomberg News the president of South Korea told his Parliament on Tuesday, “We assess that it has already completed preparations for a seventh nuclear test”.

The threat of nuclear tests by North Korea is only part of a much more complex geopolitical framework. The article in Bloomberg News articulated the complexities of the current geopolitical environment saying, “The US push to isolate Russia over Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, coupled with increasing animosity toward China, has allowed Kim to strengthen his nuclear deterrent without fear of facing more sanctions at the UN Security Council”.

There are also reports that Russia is planning a false flag attack. On Monday Putin and the Kremlin claimed that Ukraine was planning to use a radioactive “dirty bomb” against Russian forces. Putin has used “false flags” before as a rationale to escalate

Russia’s military operations. This has raised concern that the Russian president is creating a narrative in which he will escalate the war in Ukraine to include tactical nuclear weapons or a dirty bomb to preempt Ukraine from using a “dirty bomb”.

On Tuesday Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said, “From a US standpoint, the allegations that Ukraine is building a dirty bomb are false.”

Today President Biden said that Russia would be making a “serious mistake” by launching a “false flag” nuclear attack in Ukraine and that it’s unclear if such an operation was underway.

With today’s backdrop of extreme dollar weakness giving up more than 1%. As well as an extreme escalation of geopolitical uncertainty from North Korea and the fact that gold is only up $3 clearly illustrate that gold is currently not reacting as a safe haven asset.

By Gary Wagner

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

Tim Moseley

Market participants continue to be headlined driven as seen in gold on Friday

Gold investors and traders are reacting strongly to any shift in the Federal Reserve’s narrative concerning upcoming interest rate hikes. This was seen on Friday when a single article published by the Wall Street Journal resulted in strong gains for gold. On Friday Mary Daly the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank said, “I think the time is now to start talking about stepping down – the time is now to start planning for stepping down,”.

While the consensus amongst investors and economists is that the Federal Reserve will raise rates by 75 basis points at the FOMC meeting in November, we saw a dramatic shift in market sentiment for the December rate hike as seen through the eyes of the CME the FedWatch tool.

On Friday the FedWatch tool predicted that there is a 46.3% probability that the Fed funds rate will be between 450 and 475 basis points by the end of 2022. This greatly differs from last Thursday’s prediction which indicated a probability of 75.4 %. Today the FedWatch tool is predicting that there is a 53.7% probability that the Fed’s benchmark by year-end will be between 450 and 475 basis points.

What caused the dramatic shift in Fed funds futures contract pricing on Friday was speculation amongst Federal Reserve officials as to whether or not to begin to decrease the size of the rate hike in December.

It is quite plausible that market participants looked closer at statements by Mary Daly who qualified her statements “that slowing down was not the same as stopping rate hikes” and that the Federal Reserve benchmark rate will ultimately rise to “4 ½ or 5%” which is “a very reasonable estimate of where we’ll need to go”.

Today gold futures pricing is down slightly after trading to its highest value since the beginning of October. Gold futures traded to a high of $1675.50 today before moving lower on the day. As of 5:40 PM EDT, the most active December contract is currently fixed at $1654.10 after factoring in today’s decline of $2.20 or 0.13%.

On Friday gold traded to its lowest value this month matching the lows achieved during the last week of September at $1622. However, following the release of the Wall Street Journal article on Friday which highlighted Mary Daly’s comments about upcoming rate hikes gold rallied strongly closing at $1656. Today’s fractional decline of $2.20 is impressive considering that Friday’s gains were based on a single Federal Reserve member's narrative. Earlier in the week two Federal Reserve presidents

Bullard & Kashkari said and confirmed that the Fed can’t pause hikes. It seems as though market participants want to react to any Fed statements that are more dovish than the recent extremely strong hawkish statements made earlier. What can be construed from this is that markets are pricing in more the more hawkish scenario of two more 75 point hikes this year.
 

By Gary Wagner

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

Tim Moseley