Slight price rises in gold, silver as FOMC meeting looms

Gold and silver prices are slightly higher in quieter U.S. trading early Friday. It appears the precious metals are pausing ahead of a busy U.S. data week next week, including inflation reports and the FOMC meeting. August gold was last up $1.60 at $1,980.20 and July silver was up $0.097 at $24.445.

The marketplace is looking ahead to next week’s FOMC meeting of the Federal Reserve, which begins Tuesday and ends Wednesday afternoon with a statement and press conference from Fed Chairman Powell. A majority of the marketplace thinks the Fed will pause in its interest-rate-tightening cycle. But now many market watchers think the U.S. central bank will follow the Bank of Canada’s recent moves. The BOC this week raised interest rates by 0.25% after a four-month pause. Also next week comes the consumer price index and producer price index, on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Asian and European stock markets were mixed to firmer overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward weaker openings when the New York day session begins.

In overnight news, China’s producer price index unexpectedly dropped sharply in May, at down 4.6%, year-on-year. That’s the biggest drop in seven years. China’s consumer price index rose 0.2%, year-on-year. This latest data from China is another clue that major central banks of the world are taming problematic inflation.

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The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index firmer. Nymex crude oil prices are near steady and trading around $71.25 a barrel. Crude prices briefly dropped sharply Thursday on reports the U.S. and Iran may be getting close to an agreement on its nuclear program that could prompt the lifting of oil sanctions on Iran. However, prices recovered as most traders doubt the U.S. and Iran can really come to terms on the matter. Meantime, the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is presently fetching 3.755%.

There is no major U.S. economic data due for release Friday.

Technically, the gold futures bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close in August futures above solid resistance at $2,000.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at the May low of $1,949.60. First resistance is seen at this week’s high of $1,986.50 and then at $2,000.00. First support is seen at $1,965.00 and then at the May low of $1,949.60. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5

The silver bulls have gained the overall near-term technical advantage. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing July futures prices above solid technical resistance at $25.00. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at the May low of $22.785. First resistance is seen at $24.75 and then at $25.00. Next support is seen at $24.12 and then at $24.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0.

By

Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

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