Rising USDX, U.S. Treasury yields put price pressure on gold, silver

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(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are weaker in early U.S. trading Thursday, as rising U.S. Treasury yields and an appreciating U.S. dollar on the foreign exchange market are bearish outside market forces working against the metals market bulls on this day. April gold was last down $7.50 at $1,837.40 and May silver was down $0.20 at $20.895.

Global stock markets were mixed overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward mixed openings when the New York day session begins. A feature in the marketplace recently has been rising U.S. Treasury yields. The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note is presently fetching 4.020%. The yield is the highest since last November. Traders and investors worried about a still-hawkish Federal Reserve keeping interest rates higher for longer in order to successfully tamp down problematic price inflation. However, that means the Fed clamping down on U.S. economic growth to squelch consumer and commercial demand.

In overnight news, the Euro zone February consumer price index came in at up 8.5%, year-on-year, compared to up 8.6% in January and a forecast for up 8.2% in the February report. It’s apparent the European Central Bank still has more work to do to defeat high inflation in the Euro zone.

The key outside markets this morning see the U.S. dollar index higher. Nymex crude oil futures prices are firmer and trading around $78.25 a barrel. Oil prices have rallied recently on hopes for better energy demand from China, the world’s second-largest economy, as that nation has abandoned its Covid restrictions.

U.S. economic data due for release Thursday includes the weekly jobless claims report, revised productivity and costs, and the monthly chain store sales index.

Technically, the gold futures bears have the slight overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are still in a downtrend on the daily bar chart, but just barely. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close in April futures above solid resistance at $1,881.60. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,800.00. First resistance is seen at this week’s high of $1.852.50 and then at last week’s high of $1,856.40. First support is seen at Wednesday’s low of $1,829.60 and then at $1,820.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 4.5

The silver bears have the overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a steep downtrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing May futures prices above solid technical resistance at $22.25. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $19.00. First resistance is seen at this week’s high of $21.285 and then at $21.52. Next support is seen at the overnight low of $20.78 and then at this week’s low of $20.505. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 4.0.