(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are higher in midday U.S. trading Monday, in a quieter start to a U.S.-holiday-shortened trading week. Traders and investors are awaiting a heavy slate of U.S. economic data due to be released Tuesday and Wednesday. December gold was last up $16.60 at $4,096.20. December silver prices were up $0.342 at $50.245.
U.S. economic data due out Tuesday includes September retail sales, the September producer price index, pending homes sales, the Richmond Fed business survey, the monthly house price index, the consumer confidence index, manufacturing and trade inventories and the monthly Treasury budget statement. Wednesday comes the weekly jobless claims report, durable goods orders, the second estimate of third-quarter GDP, the advance economic indicators report, the Chicago ISM business survey, personal income and outlays (including the key inflation gauges), new residential sales, the weekly DOE liquid energy stocks report, and the Federal Reserve’s beige book.
The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index slightly higher. Crude oil prices are firmer and trading around $58.50 a barrel. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note is presently around 4.06%.
Note: The gold market operates through two primary pricing mechanisms. The first is the spot market, which quotes prices for on-the-spot purchase and immediate delivery. The second is the futures market, which sets prices for delivery at a future date. Due to year-end positioning market liquidity, the December gold futures contract is currently the most actively traded on the CME.
Technically, December gold futures bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at the November high of $4,250.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $4,000.00. First resistance is seen at $4,100.00 and then at last week’s high of $4,134.30. First support is seen at the overnight low of $4,036.40 and then at Friday’s low of $4,018.10. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5.
December silver futures bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage but have faded. Their next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the record high of $54.415. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $47.00. First resistance is seen at Friday’s high of $50.555 and then at $51.00. Next support is seen at today’s low of $49.37 and then at $49.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5.
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