AM-PM Roundup
Gold, silver prices constrained by lower risk aversion
(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are steady to slightly down in early U.S. futures trading Wednesday. The safe-haven metals continue to be hamstrung by mostly upbeat trader and investor attitudes at mid-week, as evidenced by U.S. stock indexes hitting more record highs overnight. February gold futures were last down $2.00 an ounce at 1,555.80. March Comex silver prices were last up $0.007 at $17.815 an ounce.
Asian and European stock markets were mixed overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward firmer openings when the New York day session begins.
Focus at mid-week is on the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. President Trump, in an interview with CNBC, said U.S. economic growth has been hamstrung by the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates too high, and by the grounded Boeing jetliner situation. Trump also threatened new trade tariffs on European countries that manufacture automobiles.
The global marketplace is keeping an eye on China health officials battling a coronavirus that has killed at least six with hundreds more afflicted, and is rapidly spreading. A case was reported in the Seattle, Washington area Tuesday.
The markets are so far paying very little attention to the impeachment of President Trump. The U.S. Senate this week is holding hold Trump’s trial.
The key outside markets today see crude oil prices down and trading around $58.00 a barrel. The U.S. dollar index is slightly up early today.
U.S. economic data due for release Wednesday includes the weekly MBA mortgage applications survey, the weekly Goldman Sachs and Johnson Rebook retail sales reports, the Chicago Fed national activity index, the monthly house price index and existing home sales.
![Live 24 hours gold chart [Kitco Inc.]](/images/live/gold.gif?0.2924175530478188){kind=small}
Technically, the gold bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage, but the January spike high is still strong chart resistance to overcome. A price uptrend is still in place on the daily chart. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close in February futures above solid resistance at the September high of $1,571.70. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,525.00. First resistance is seen at the overnight high of $1,559.80 and then at this week’s high of $1,568.80. First support is seen at the overnight low of $1,550.00 and then at $1,541.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5
![Live 24 hours silver chart [ Kitco Inc. ]](/images/live/silver.gif)
March silver futures bulls and bears are on a level overall near-term technical playing field. Silver bulls' next upside price breakout objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the January high of $18.895 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $17.00. First resistance is seen at $18.00 and then at last week’s high of $18.185. Next support is seen at this week’s low of $17.62 and then at $17.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.0.
