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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
