(Kitco News) - Gold prices are slightly higher and silver prices slightly lower in midday U.S. trading Tuesday. Quieter, post-holiday trading is featured. Bullish charts are prompting some mild speculator buying interest in both precious metals. The key outside markets were also bullish for the metals today, as the U.S. dollar index was modestly weaker and crude oil prices were solidly higher. Some profit-taking from the shorter-term futures traders did limit gains in gold and silver today. February gold was last up $1.70 at $2,070.60. March silver was last down $0.07 at $24.50.
Asian and European stock markets were mixed overnight. U.S. stock index futures slightly higher at midday. Some markets, including those in the U.K., Germany and France, remained closed Tuesday after the Christmas holiday Monday.
Reports said the U.S. military carried out retaliatory air strikes on Monday in Iraq after a drone strike from Iran-aligned militants left one U.S. serviceman in critical condition and wounded two others. Markets showed no significant price reactions to the news.
The yield on the benchmark U.S. Treasury 10-year note is presently fetching 3.906%.
Technically, February gold futures bulls have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a 2.5-month-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $2,100.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $2,000.00. First resistance is seen at today’s high of $2,076.30 and then at last week’s high of $2,083.00. First support is seen at today’s low of $2,065.10 and then at last Friday’s low of $2,058.20. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 7.5.
March silver futures bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a 2.5-month-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $26.00. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at the December low of $22.785. First resistance is seen at today’s high of $24.70 and then at last week’s high of $24.895. Next support is seen at today’s low of $24.34 and then at $24.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5.
March N.Y. copper closed down 10 points at 390.40 cents today. Prices closed nearer the session low today. The copper bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a choppy, two-month-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Copper bulls' next upside price objective
is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at the July high of 404.45 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the December low of 372.90 cents. First resistance is seen at the December high of 394.50 cents and then at 400.00 cents. First support is seen at last week’s low of 384.10 cents and then at 380.00 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5.
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