Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices aretrading not far from unchanged in subdued midday U.S. trading Monday. Risinggovernment bond yields recently and an appreciating U.S. dollar on the foreign exchangemarket are bearish elements for the safe-haven metals. However, Nymex crude oilpushing to a seven-year high of $82.18 a barrel today is a bullish factor forthe metals markets. Traders are awaiting a fresh fundamental spark, possibly tocome from U.S. data out this week that includes inflation readings Wednesdayand Thursday. December gold futures were last down $0.40 at $1,757.00. DecemberComex silver was last down $0.01 at $22.695 an ounce. Globalstock markets were mixed in overnight trading. The U.S. stock indexes are modestlyup at midday. The U.S. government is closed for the Columbus Day holidayMonday, including the U.S. Treasury markets. That is making for quieter tradingin the U.S. today. Traders and investors worldwide are still a bit tentative tostart the trading week. Supply-chain bottlenecks and rising energy prices areprompting worries about slowing global economic growth. Goldman Sachs over the weekendcut its U.S. economic growth forecasts for this year and next. Some Europeancountries are worried about having enough energy for winter heating. Theseconcerns followed an uninspiring U.S. employment report released Friday morning.The10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is presently fetching 1.612%. Bond yields areon the rise, which has heightened fears of rising inflation or evenstagflation, which is a combination of rising prices and slowing economicgrowth. Technically,December gold futures bears have the slight overall near-term technicaladvantage. A four-week-old price downtrend on the daily bar chart has beennegated. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solidresistance at $1,800.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective ispushing futures prices below solid technical support at the September low of$1,721.10. First resistance is seen at $1,771.50 and then at last week's highof $1,782.40. First support is seen at today's low of $1,749.90 and then at lastweek's low of $1,745.40. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 4.5December silver futures bears have the firm overallnear-term technical advantage. However, a four-week-old downtrend on the dailybar chart has been negated. Silver bulls' next upside price objective isclosing prices above solid technical resistance at $24.00 an ounce. The nextdownside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support atthe September low of $21.41. First resistance is seen at $23.00 and then atlast week's high of $23.22. Next support is seen at last week's low of $22.185and then at $22.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.5. DecemberN.Y. copper closed up 910 points at 436.65 cents today. Prices closed nearerthe session high today and hit a three-week high. The copper bulls have gainedthe overall near-term technical advantage. Copper bulls' next upside priceobjective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at theSeptember high of 447.15 cents. The next downside price objective for the bearsis closing prices below solid technical support at 410.00 cents. Firstresistance is seen at today's high of 438.50 cents and then at 441.80 cents.First support is seen at 430.00 cents and then at today's low of 425.55 cents.Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0. By Jim Wyckoff For Kitco NewsFollow @jimwyckoffjwyckoff@kitco.comwww.kitco.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.