(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are firmer in early-afternoon U.S. dealings Thursday. Some shortcovering in the futures market is featured, following recent selling pressure.Still, buying interest remains squelched by a solid rally in world stockmarkets today and a generally “risk-on” trading mentality in the marketplacerecently. Silver prices fell to a 12-month low overnight, before bouncing.Augustgold futures were last up $3.10 an ounce at $1,247.50. July Comex silver was last up $0.193 at $16.01 an ounce.
Thefeature in the marketplace late this week is U.S. President Trump in Europemeeting with European leaders, with a meeting with Russian President VladimirPutin scheduled for next Monday. The marketplace will watch Trump’s meetingsclosely. The just-concluded NATO meeting was declared a success by Trump.
Today’srelease of the June U.S. consumer price index (CPI) report came in a up 0.1%versus the forecast of being up 0.2% from May. On an annualized basis, the CPIwas up 2.9%, which is the highest level in six years. Still, by the lack ofreaction in the markets, these numbers are not (yet) deemed problematic forinflation.
Inovernight news, the European Commission projected the Euro zone inflation rateat 1.7% in 2018 and in 2019, which is up just slightly from their earlierforecasts.
Thekey “outside markets” today find Nymex crude oil prices lower on follow-throughselling from strong losses posted Wednesday, and are back below $70.00 abarrel. There are now chart clues the crude oil market has topped out, whichwould be a bearish development for the raw commodity sector.
Meantime,the U.S. dollar index is near steady, but the greenback bulls have regainedsome momentum late this week.
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Technically,gold prices are not far above last week’s 12-month-low. The gold bears have thesolid overall near-term technical advantage. A three-month-old downtrend is inplace on the daily bar chart. Gold bulls' next upside near-term price breakoutobjective is to produce a close above solid technical resistance at $1,275.00.Bears' next near-term downside price breakout objective is pushing prices belowsolid technical support at $1,230.00. First resistance is seen at $1,250.00 andthen at Wednesday’s high of $1,257.30. First support is seen at today’s low of$1,241.40 and then at last week’s low of $1,238.80. Wyckoff's Market Rating:2.0
Thesilver bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Silverbulls' next upside price breakout objective is closing prices above solidtechnical resistance at this week’s high of $16.25 an ounce. The next downsideprice breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at$15.55. First resistance is seen at this week’s high of $16.26 and then at$16.40. Next support is seen at today’s low of $15.78 and then at $15.55.Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.5.
SeptemberN.Y. copper closed up 400 points at 278.35 cents today. Prices closed nearerthe session high on short covering after hitting a 12-month low on Wednesday.The copper bears still have the solid overall near-term technical advantage.Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices abovesolid technical resistance at 300.00 cents. The next downside price objectivefor the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at 260.00 cents.First resistance is seen at 280.00 cents and then at Wednesday’s high of 283.05cents. First support is seen at 275.00 cents and then at this week’s low of271.70 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 1.5.
By Jim WyckoffFor Kitco News
Follow @jimwyckoff