Gold Price News: Gold Consolidates As Middle East Conflict Boosts Haven Appeal

Once again, gold has confirmed its key role as a safe haven amid market uncertainty.

Growing geopolitical concerns from escalating tensions in Israel and Gaza increased investors’ demand for bullion and pushed the price higher. In the last few days, gold has been supported by dovish remarks from Federal Reserve key speakers, after months of hawkish rhetoric and rate hikes.

gold kau on kinesis exchange

The temporary weakness of the greenback and the decline of yields are also supportive factors for gold. As a result, yesterday we saw the precious metal extending its gains and consolidating above the support zone of $1,850.

For the time being, the next key resistance zone, at $1,890, remains relatively far away, with the gold price currently steady around $1,860. Although from a technical perspective, the scenario has improved.

The gold spot price has shown resilience remaining above the $1,850 threshold in the last 24 hours, while volatility has declined. Investors are now waiting for the release of the minutes from today’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), and US inflation data, which will be released tomorrow. The reports are forecast to show a decline from 3.7% to 3.6%.

A confirmation of these expectations could reinforce the notion that a peak in interest rates for this cycle has been reached – or at least, is extremely near. This is all supportive of gold.

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Gold, silver a bit weaker following warm U.S. inflation report

Gold and silver prices are slightly down in midday U.S. trading Thursday, following a U.S. consumer inflation reading that was just a bit higher than expected. The markets also saw routine corrective pullbacks from recent price gains. December gold was last down $2.90 at $1,884.20 and December silver was down $0.183 at $21.95.

Focus today was on a key U.S. inflation report: the consumer price index report for September. The CPI rose by 3.7% compared to the previous year–higher than the consensus estimate of up 3.6%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices advanced by 0.4%, easing from a 0.6% gain in August but exceeding market expectations of 0.3%. Core CPI, excluding food and energy prices, also increased by 0.3% for the month and 4.1% on a 12-month basis, aligning with expectations. It marked the lowest reading since September 2021. The slightly warmer-than-expected CPI reading today slightly dented bullish enthusiasm in the precious metals markets. Still, the safe-haven bid amid the elevated Middle East tensions is likely to at least keep a floor under gold and silver prices.

Asian and European stocks were mostly higher overnight. U.S. stock indexes are mixed at midday. The U.S. stock indexes this week are “climbing a wall of worry” as the turmoil in the Middle East is on the front burner of the marketplace.

  September sell-off presents buying opportunity for gold investors – WGC

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index solidly higher, which was also a daily negative for the metals. Nymex crude oil prices are slightly higher and trading around $83.75 a barrel. The yield on the benchmark U.S. Treasury 10-year note yield is presently fetching 4.651%.

Technically, December gold futures still see very early clues that a market bottom is in place. However, the bears still have the firm overall near-term technical advantage. A five-month-old price downtrend is in place on the daily bar chart. 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 $1,900.00 and then at $1,913.60. First support is seen at Wednesday’s low of $1,871.70 and then at this week’s low of $1,857.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 3.0

December silver futures prices scored a bearish “outside day” down today. The silver bears have the overall near-term technical advantage. A 2.5-month-old downtrend is in place on the daily bar chart. 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 $22.39 and then at $22.555. Next support is seen at this week’s low of $21.705 and then at $21.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 3.0.

December N.Y. copper closed down 215 points at 359.05 cents today. Prices closed nearer the session low. 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 this week’s high of 367.45 cents and then at 370.00 cents. First support is seen at today’s low of 358.35 cents and then at the October low of 354.90 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.0.

By

Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Gold prices holding near one-week high as FOMC minutes support 'higher for longer' interest rates

The gold market is holding solid gains even as the minutes of the Federal Reserve's September monetary policy meeting show that the central bank is committed to maintaining a "higher for longer" monetary policy stance.

Although the Federal Reserve is nearing the end of its tightening cycle, the minutes showed that the committee continues to support elevated interest rates until it is confident that inflation is falling back to the 2% target.

"All participants agreed that policy should remain restrictive for some time until the Committee is confident that inflation is moving down sustainably toward its objective," the minutes said. "Several participants commented that, with the policy rate likely at or near its peak, the focus of monetary policy decisions and communications should shift from how high to raise the policy rate to how long to hold the policy rate at restrictive levels."

The gold market is not seeing much reaction to the latest minutes. December gold futures last traded at $1,885.50 an ounce, up 0.54% on the day.

The gold market continues to be well supported due to renewed safe-haven demand as investors remained focused on the growing chaos in the Middle East and the new war between Israel and Hamas.

Although the Federal Reserve is expected to maintain restrictive monetary policies for the foreseeable future, the minutes also show the committee recognizes the difficult path that lies ahead.

"Many participants commented that even though economic activity had been resilient and the labor market had remained strong, there continued to be downside risks to economic activity and upside risks to the unemployment rate," the minutes said. "Participants generally noted that it was important to balance the risk of overtightening against the risk of insufficient tightening."

Despite the Federal Reserve's relatively hawkish stance, markets expect that the Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged next month. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets see a less than 10% chance of a 25-basis point hike.

Andrew Hunter, deputy chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics, said that he expects that the Fed's tightening cycle has ended.

"With several officials this week suggesting that higher yields could reduce the need for further rate hikes, we think it is increasingly likely that the Fed's next move will be a cut. We expect that to come in the first half of next year, with rapidly falling inflation and weak economic growth convincing officials to cut rates by 200bp in total by end-2024," he said in a note following the release of the minutes.

By

Neils Christensen

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Gold prices reined in by risk-on sentiment, but geopolitics, USD pullback should offer support – City Index's Razaqzada

Today’s uptick in risk appetite is creating some drag on gold prices, but the precious metal’s weekend gap remains open, says Fawad Razaqzada, Market Analyst at City Index.

“In other words, gold is still comfortably higher than Friday’s close,” he observed. “More gains could be on the way for gold for as long as geopolitical risks remain elevated and if the upcoming US macro pointers trigger fresh selling in the dollar, after the greenback ended a run of 11 consecutive weekly gains last week.”

Razaqzada said that even though geopolitical risks such as the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict haven’t subsided, gold prices have moderated today, due in part to the rebound in bond yields.

“While gold may not be shining so brightly so far today, it could easily find renewed strength as the situation in the Middle East remains intense,” he said, underlining the potential for the conflict to widen. “This is why oil prices have remained elevated. Gold typically rises when there is heightened geopolitical risks.”

He said it’s possible that bond yields have peaked. “The stronger-than-expected US jobs report on Friday failed to deliver any more dollar strength and with the greenback falling further so far this week, the possibility that the dollar may have formed a top is undoubtedly something that many investors are wondering about,” he added. “If we see a similar response to this week’s upcoming data (FOMC minutes, CPI and UoM consumer Sentiment survey, among other things), then this will further fuel speculation that the worst is over [for] gold.”

Razaqzada said gold’s nearly 7% drop from its Sept. 21 high means prices were due to see a short covering rally. “So, some of the bullish price action since Friday could be just that – a short-covering bounce,” he said. “Therefore, one should not get too carried away by the recent bullish price action.”

He remains steadfastly bullish about gold’s long-term outlook, however. “[M]uch of the Fed’s hawkish repricing of interest rates are now done, meaning that the downside for bonds and, by extension, gold should be limited moving forward,” Razaqzada said. “So, be on the lookout for more bullish signals to emerge from here on.”

Razaqzada said that the fact that spot gold has not returned to Friday’s closing prices “must be making it uncomfortable to trade gold, as usually gaps tend to fill in highly liquid assets.” But he cautioned that this is not always the case. “I recall a gap on the EUR/USD a few years ago that remained unfilled for several months,” he said. “While a gap-fill would make things a bit more comfortable, gold can simply grind higher for a while, especially if the dollar selling gathers pace.”

He also offered some short-term strategies that may serve traders well in the current market. “One way to look for new trades while the gap remains open is to zoom in on the smaller time frames like the hourly, wait for a bit of consolidation and then look for long setups once price breaks higher, or about to,” he said, adding that traders can use short-term price structures as their invalidation levels.

“Obviously a much better scenario would be for gold to fill its gap and then create fresh bullish signals to trigger another rally,” Razaqzada said. “That could still happen, and the trigger could be the upcoming US data releases that will undoubtedly move the dollar and bond yields in the direction of the surprise.”

Spot gold continues to hold above $1857 on Tuesday afternoon, which Razaqzada said is the first key short-term resistance level. “While a bit of a move lower from here is understandable, the fact that support in the long-term area around $1805 to $1820 held last week, before the flare up of geopolitical risks, this could be a sign that the metal may have formed a low,” he said.

“The next level of potential resistance is seen around $1885, followed by $1900, with the latter being the base of the previous breakdown,” Razaqzada concluded. “On the downside, the next potential support level is Friday’s high at $1835.”

Spot gold last traded at $1858.66, down 0.15% on the session.

By

Ernest Hoffman

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Coinbase fears crypto sector could follow semiconductors offshore due to lack of US support

At a time of robust crypto and Bitcoin news coverage, widespread investor interest, and a burgeoning array of new businesses competing within the sector, it almost seems implausible to suggest that this industry is somehow at risk.

And yet, that's exactly what Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal fears will happen if the US doesn't step up its support and commitment to lead the digital asset economy, in what he feels could be a case of history repeating itself if the country drops the ball on nurturing a new technology.

"We know exactly how this will look because we've seen it time and again when this country has ceded its traditional leadership role when it comes to new technologies and other countries have grabbed the mantle,” Grewal told Kitco News correspondent Matt Nesto in the attached video interview.

In likening crypto and digital assets to the present plight of the semiconductor industry, Grewal says there are multiple reasons to ensure the domestic digital asset incubator stays warm.

"For example, there's recently been a tremendous debate in the United States about semiconductors and how over the last 30 years, the industry that we developed, that we grew, has somehow found its way to countries far from the United States and countries that may not always have the United States interest,” he said.

So, while some may argue that this alarmism is unwarranted, this lawyer and former U.S. magistrate judge can't help citing precedent.

"I don't want, and Coinbase doesn't want, to find ourselves 30 years from now asking the same kinds of questions that we're asking about (semis),” he said. "We don't want to be asking in 30 years, ‘Who lost crypto?’”

You Only Get One Chance

Baseball fans often point to big opportunities and at-bats to change the course of a game and history, and from Grewal's purview, the present state of the domestic crypto industry is not all that different, with the country and its 50 million digital assets investors facing a put up or shut up moment of sorts.

"So this is an important technology and Americans have made it clear that they want this as part of their future,” he said, while calling on the country's investors to share their views and send a message to their elected representatives.

"Unless these 52 million Americans and others share their views with their representatives and make it clear to their elected representatives that they want to see sensible, fair, balanced regulation as applied to digital assets, the United States is going to lose this opportunity. We're going to lose this moment,” he said.

This call to action, so to speak, is all part of a broader Coinbase effort to ensure that digital assets are part of the campaign conversation and new standwithcrypto.org website.

"Call your congressman, send an email to your senator, let them know that we all want sensible digital asset legislation passed,” Grewal said. "Not in 5 years, not in 10 years, but now. This is too important an industry, too important a part of our economy.”

More Than Just Tech at Stake

Grewal's argument in support of the domestic crypto industry is not only based on nurturing the new tech and building a strategic geopolitical moat of sorts but it's also tied to keeping millions of good-paying jobs from moving offshore.

pic

"Do we really want to hand over a million developer jobs and 3 million other high-paying jobs to overseas jurisdictions simply because we can't get our act together in the US?” Grewal said in a recent post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

In short, Grewal said that the Crypto, Blockchain, Web3 as Job Growth Engine story is not some out-there concept.

"It is happening,” he said. "The best research we see right now is that this industry will generate millions of jobs looking ahead,” he added.

"If these jobs are coming, and we know they are, Wouldn't we want to have at least a fair share of those here in the United States? I think the answer to that is an obvious one; Yes.”

That Enforcement Problem

In addition to industry support, national security and job creation, Grewal also took aim at the current regulatory environment.

"We think (enforcement) is appropriate, indeed, laudable that the Department of Justice has gone after the scammers, the fraudsters that target our industry, but that's no reason to throw out the entire baby with the bathwater,” he said.

In pointing to the fact that over 80% of the G-20 countries have already adopted cryptocurrency regulations or frameworks or are on their way to doing so, Grewal said it is imperative for the US to do more in order to be at the forefront of guiding the industry.

"The United States is falling behind. That's the bad news,” he said. ”The good news is there's still plenty of time to catch up,” he added, noting a number of bills that are currently pending in Congress. "The U. S. can still get this right, but it's time for us to act.

By

Matt Nesto

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Waterfall decline in gold induces miner capitulation

The headwinds from persistent strength in the U.S. dollar and 10-year bond yields moving closer to 5% have proved too much for the gold market as prices have fallen to their lowest level since March. Gold lost key support at $1900 in September, when the month and quarter ended last Friday. With the Chinese market being closed during "Golden Week," Western bullion banks were primed to continue covering short positions into October during a waterfall decline in Gold Futures down towards its rising 200-week moving average at $1820.

Yet, once you step back to look at the bigger macro picture that is currently unfolding, it is not hard to see that the stars are aligning for gold. Although the bears have been able to break through the six-month gold floor at $1900, rising energy prices coupled with slower economic growth are creating a stagflationary environment which will eventually push Gold Futures back above $2000 an ounce.

As we transition through the final quarter of 2023, the list of known risk factors is expanding as an unrelenting selloff in government bonds has sent global treasury yields to levels last seen prior to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. Government borrowing costs influence everything from mortgage rates for homeowners to loan rates for companies.

Rising debt and geopolitical instability could also make U.S. bonds less attractive to foreign investors. The risk now is that the Federal Reserve loses control of yields and is forced to be a buyer of last resort. If yields continue to climb, the world's most powerful central bank may be forced to increase its balance sheet with new quantitative easing measures before cutting rates. Not to mention the Fed publicly giving up on its fantasy of getting back to 2% inflation, which would be a major positive for the gold price.

The speed of the bond rout has spooked stock investors as well, with all major equity indexes wiping out their gains for the year. The S&P 500 erased all its gains for 2023 and tumbled into correction territory this week. Some analysts have compared the strong run-up in stocks in 2023 to the price action leading up to the 1987 crash.

In 1987, the S&P 500 rallied about 39%, peaked in August, the crashed in October to erase all its gains in just two weeks. The current rally that started in October 2022 gained about 31% into July, and is now setting up a potential panic move lower. If the S&P 500 closes below critical support at 4200 later today, the odds of a waterfall decline during crash season would increase significantly.

The gold price has been incredibly resilient in the face of skyrocketing bond yields. The 10-year bond rate was around 2.5% a year ago, and gold was trading around $1820. Now, after rates have nearly doubled up to 4.8%, gold is still trading at $1820 as Eastern central banks continue to add more bullion to their reserves.

According to the latest data from the World Gold Council this week, central banks bought 77 tonnes of gold in August, a 38% increase compared to buying in July. Over the last three months, central banks have bought 219 tonnes of gold. This comes after record purchases during the first half of the year.

The continued buying shows central bank gold demand is far from being saturated. The U.S. dollar's persistent strength means that nations with U.S. dollar-denominated debt continue to face high financing costs. The only way to reduce those costs is to diversify away from the U.S. dollar and gold remains the most attractive global monetary asset.

As 10-year bond yields move closer to 5%, Western investors may be close to waking up to the growing debt risks in the U.S. Once Western investors begin to become more defensive as recession fears grow, we will start to see investment demand for gold pick up.

Most economists have felt over the past several months that the Federal Reserve has gone one rate hike too far. And with the odds increasing of another rate hike coming next month, the biggest risk is that the Fed may commit yet another policy error after insisting inflation was "transitory" for a year before beginning to hike rates in March 2022.

By waiting far too long before hiking rates as inflation raged, the Fed has boxed itself into a corner after raising rates at its fastest pace in over 40 years – while government eliminated the debt ceiling. The further the central bank goes into restrictive territory, the more likely it becomes that we begin to see black swan events – just like we saw recently with the second, third and fourth largest bank failures in U.S. history.

If the Fed pushes too hard on rates, the 10-year could spike above 5% and this would raise the odds of breaking something in the financial system. The regional banking crisis in March sparked an over $250 move higher in the gold price from levels it has come back to test this week. But if the central bank stands pat, back-to-back pauses would support an end to the tightening cycle, which would also be bullish for gold.

The U,S, ADP report this week revealed a twelfth straight weekly decline in wages on a debt-saddled population. We should expect to see further volatility and uncertainty in the U.S. dollar as the country's government debt continues to grow along with its citizenry.

Consumer credit card balances and personal interest payments are soaring. U.S. credit card balances crossed the $1 trillion mark this summer as more Americans turned to debt to fund their everyday needs. With interest on credit cards now over 22% the average debt-laden consumer is getting crushed, resulting in delinquencies also climbing as that strategy becomes increasingly untenable.

U.S. debt is approaching $33.5 trillion. At the same time, the deficit is on pace to increase by $2 trillion this year. The eventual economic consequences of the burgeoning government debt include slower growth as more resources get used and allocated by the government.

A likely monetary consequence is that regardless of what senior members of the Fed currently say and think (they naturally insist that the Fed is independent), there is a high probability that the Fed eventually will yet again be called upon to help finance the government.

Historically, the biggest positive for the gold price has been loss of confidence in Fed policy and government. The looming U.S. government shutdown may still be a catalyst for gold even after the current crisis has been pushed out for 45 days.

A split Congress is at loggerheads yet again over government funding just as U.S. bond markets are pricing the most expensive Treasury borrowing in 16 years – while also rethinking the long-term trajectory for interest rates and fiscal policy.

A near-miss on a debt ceiling showdown in the Spring led to the loss of another Triple-A sovereign credit rating, followed by further brinkmanship over next year's spending bills. According to a recent warning from Moody's, the dysfunction in public financing and potential for debt servicing disruption may threaten the last remaining AAA credit rating of the main three agencies.

Furthermore, the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in its history has booted its speaker out of the job, as infighting in the narrow and bitterly divided Republican majority toppled Kevin McCarthy from the position. This unprecedented action now creates a political crisis, plunging the House of Representatives into inevitable confusion and uncertainty, not to mention a highly contentious battle over the speaker position.

Until a House speaker is installed, it is unlikely that further action will be taken on bills to fund the government, with lawmakers facing a Nov. 17 deadline to provide more money or face a partial government shutdown. Republican lawmakers said they would need at least a week to choose a new speaker, which will eat into the time necessary to pass that needed legislation.

This dilemma coincides with Republicans simultaneously battling the calendar to complete the appropriations process and continues its impeachment investigation into President Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, gold stocks are presenting the best risk/reward situation we have seen since late 2015 after Gold Futures have now printed nine consecutive daily red candles to become deeply oversold. Both GDX and GDXJ are testing the lower boundary of their respective downtrend channels as a final capitulation by worn out gold stock investors takes place.

A similar correction pattern amid sector capitulation occurred into the second week of 2016. The exact low back then came in the form of an intra-day bear-trap reversal to the upside, which took many bottom-fishers accumulating quality juniors since early Q4 2015 quickly out of position.

There was no major news to trigger the event, it was just the algorithm switch being flipped after a similar capitulation had run its course. And those investors who sold were left to watch many of the juniors they capitulated go 5-10x higher in just six months, while refusing to buy them back at higher prices along the way after being burned.

In anticipation of the incredible gains the junior sector should begin to experience once the gold price prints a technical breakout above $2100, the Junior Miner Junky (JMJ) newsletter has accumulated a basket of quality juniors with 3x-10x upside potential into 2025-26.

If you require assistance in accumulating the best in breed precious metals related juniors, and would like to receive my research, newsletter, portfolio, watch list, and trade alerts, please click here for instant access.

By

David Erfle

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Gold price down after much stronger U.S. jobs growth in Sept.

Gold prices are modestly lower in the immediate aftermath of a U.S. employment report for September that showed much-stronger-than-expected non-farm payrolls jobs gains that suggest the Federal Reserve will maintain its hawkish stance on U.S. monetary policy. December gold hit a 10-month low and was last down $5.40 at $1,825.90 and December silver was up $0.006 at $21.00.

Friday morning's September U.S. employment situation report from the Labor Department showed the key non-farm payrolls number come in at up 336,000, which is way above expectations for a rise of 170,000 and compares to the August report showing a gain of 187,000 non-farm jobs. However, some of the internals of the jobs report were a bit weaker, such as the overall unemployment rate staying at 3.8% versus expectations of a 3.7% reading. Wednesday's big downside miss in the ADP jobs report had many thinking the jobs report Friday morning would also be a miss to the downside. Not the case. The new marketplace narrative of the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy that is "much higher for much longer" appears to be still intact.

Asian and European stocks were mixed but mostly higher overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed to lower openings when the New York day session begins, following the stronger jobs report. The U.S. stock indexes were firmer overnight.

  Bond yields can't keep gold down forever as ING sees higher prices in 2024

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index solidly higher after the jobs report and after being slightly down overnight. Nymex crude oil prices are weaker and trading around $81.50 a barrel. Just last week Nymex crude prices poked just above $95.00 a barrel. Meantime, the benchmark U.S. Treasury 10-year note yield is presently fetching 4.84% and is up more after the jobs report.

Other U.S. economic data due for release Friday includes the consumer credit report.

Technically, the gold futures bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in an accelerating four-month-old downtrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close in December futures 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 the overnight high of $1,848.80 and then at $1,850.00. First support is seen at $1,815.00 and then at $1,800.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 1.0

The silver bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are trending lower on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing December futures prices above solid technical resistance at $23.00. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $20.00. First resistance is seen at Tuesday's high of $21.595 and then at $22.00. Next support is seen at this week's low of $20.85 and then at $20.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.0.

If you have not done so, I encourage you to try out my new "Markets Front Burner" email report. I think it's one of my best products yet (free!) in my 40-year quest to help you become a better trader and investor. It's a weekly email report that highlights the latest developments in the marketplace, and how you can better manage those developments in your own trading/investing. Just try it for one week—I guarantee you will want to keep it coming. Sign up to my new, free weekly Markets Front Burner newsletter, at https://www.kitco.com/services/markets-front-burner.html .

By

Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Gold, silver see mild pressure ahead of U.S. jobs data Friday

Gold and silver prices are modestly weaker in midday U.S. trading Thursday. The precious metals traders are tentative ahead of Friday's important U.S. employment report. December gold was last down $3.50 at $1,831.10 and December silver was down $0.201 at $20.945.

Traders are looking ahead to Friday morning'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. Wednesday's big downside miss in the ADP jobs report has many now thinking the more important jobs report Friday will also be a miss to the downside. A weakening U.S. economy would actually be a good thing of sorts for the marketplace, in that it would likely cool the ascent in bond yields.

Asian and European stocks were mixed overnight. U.S. stock indexes are lower at midday. Risk aversion is still present late this week. The recent rise in U.S. Treasury yields and other interest rates have soured the global economic outlook, evidenced by the big drop in crude oil prices this week. Reads a Barrons headline today: "8% mortgage rates are on the horizon—and may stick around."

  Central banks buy 77 tonnes of gold, helping the precious metal resist rising bond yields

`The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index down after hitting a 10-month high Tuesday. Nymex crude oil prices are lower again and trading around $83.00 a barrel. Just last week Nymex crude prices poked just above $95.00 a barrel. Meantime, the benchmark U.S. Treasury 10-year note yield is presently fetching 4.712%.

Technically, December gold futures prices hit another 10-month low today. Bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. An accelerating five-month-old price downtrend is in place on the daily bar chart. However, the market is still 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 today's high of $1,843.50 and then at $1,850.00. First support is seen at today's low of $1,826.20 and then at $1,815.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 1.0.

December silver futures prices were poised to close at a 6.5-month low close 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 $21.455 and then at $22.00. Next support is seen at this week's low of $20.85 and then at $20.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.0.

December N.Y. copper closed down 285 points at 356.05 cents today. Prices closed nearer the session low and closed at a 10-month low close 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 today's high of 360.30 cents and then at Tuesday's high of 364.80 cents. First support is seen at this week's low of 354.90 cents and then at 350.00 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.0.

By

Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Contact jwyckoff@kitco.com

www.kitco.com

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley