(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are trading around unchanged levels in early U.S. trading Monday. The marketplace is uneasy to start the trading week, as there is civil unrest in China over its strict zero-Covid policies. Reports said there were demonstrations across China over the weekend. It’s the largest show of discontent since the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. China is the world’s second-largest economy and the most populous nation. The geopolitical and economic consequences of a further escalation in protests and any crackdown by Chinese authorities would be huge. The gold and silver markets are weighing the bearish aspect of a slowing Chinese economy crimping consumer and commercial demand for metals and other raw commodities. However, some safe-haven demand amid the geopolitical uncertainty is limiting selling interest in gold and silver. February gold was last up $1.00 at $1,755.00 and March silver was down $0.025 at $21.41.
Global stock markets were mostly lower overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward lower openings when the New York day session begins. Traders will continue to very closely monitor fresh developments out of China.
Other big market events this week include a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday afternoon and the U.S. employment report from the Labor Department on Friday morning.
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| Gold needs a new catalyst as prices end the week around $1,750 |
The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index lower. Nymex crude oil prices are solidly lower, hit a 10-month low overnight, and are trading around $74.00 a barrel. The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note is presently 3.692%.
U.S. economic data due for release Monday includes the Texas manufacturing outlook survey.
![Live 24 hours gold chart [Kitco Inc.]](/images/live/gold.gif?0.2924175530478188){kind=small}
Technically, the gold futures bulls have the slight overall near-term technical advantage. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close in February futures above solid resistance at the November high of $1,806.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,700.00. First resistance is seen at the overnight high of $1,778.50 and then at $1,790.00. First support is seen at the overnight low of $1,760.50 and then at $1,750.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.5
![Live 24 hours silver chart [ Kitco Inc. ]](/images/live/silver.gif)
The silver bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage. A choppy, 2.5-month-old uptrend is still in place on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing March futures prices above solid technical resistance at the November high of $22.50. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $19.00. First resistance is seen at last week’s high of $21.88 and then at $22.00. Next support is seen at the overnight low of $21.24 and then at $21.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0.
