(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are sharply higher near midday Tuesday, on safe-haven demand amid marketplace uncertainties regarding the war in Iran and how long it will last. A lower U.S. dollar index today is also a positive for the precious metals markets. April gold was last up $115.80 at $5,217.20. May silver prices were up $5.087 at $89.59.
President Trump on Monday said the U.S. and Israel were making significant progress in their war on Iran and could end the conflict “very soon,” curtailing an oil-price surge. However, Trump later said the war could go on for a while. Also today, Secretary of War Hegseth said today would be the heaviest bombing of Iran yet to date. The bottom line is that the war in Iran is still very fluid. Even if the U.S. wants to end the war, Iran is still firing missiles at targets across the Middle East—albeit at a diminishing rate.
The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index lower, with Nymex crude oil prices sharply down and trading around $84.00 a barrel after spiking to near $120.00 early Monday. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note is presently around 4.1 percent.
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, April gold futures bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at last week’s high of $5,434.10. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $5,000.00. First resistance is seen at $5,250.00 and then at $5,300.00. First support is seen at the overnight low of $5,127.10 and then at $5,100.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 7.0.
May silver futures bulls see their next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at last week’s high of $95.86. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at the February low of $71.815. First resistance is seen at today’s high of $90.385 and then at $92.50. Next support is seen at the overnight low of $86.805 and then at $85.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0.
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