Are we seeing the first indications of a correction in gold?

Are we seeing the first indications of a correction in gold?

This has been a most interesting year for investors and traders who have been active in gold. There have been two completed trends that contained both a multi-month rally and a multi-month correction. During the first week of January gold was already in rally mode, and opened at $1827 on the first day of trading, January 3. By March 8, gold had traded to its highest value this year at $2078 per ounce. The result was a rally in which gold gained approximately $251.

What followed was an extended multi-month correction from March 8th until the last week of September when gold traded to a low of approximately $1620. Gold would test this level on three occasions from September up until the first week of November. During this correction, gold would trade through a series of multiple lower highs and lower lows giving technical confirmation that gold was fully immersed in a bearish scenario.

Another indication was the positioning of three moving averages which moved into full bearish alignment (chart 2 above) which continues to this day. Full bearish alignment using three moving averages results in the longest average (200-day) having the highest value, followed by the 100-day moving average below it, and the 50-day moving average below that. Currently, the 200-day moving average is $1808.60. The 100-day moving average is $1727.50, and the 50-day moving average is $1681.

Chart 3 is a four-hour Japanese candlestick chart of gold futures highlighting the last three highs. After gold hit its highest value this year in March gold prices declined and could be characterized by four consecutive lower highs. However, as you can see on the chart above the first two lower highs occurred in the middle of August when gold hit a high of $1825. That was followed by a lower high at $1738 during the first part of October.

Gold hit approximately $1620 for the third time at the beginning of November which marked the end of the multi-month correction and the beginning of a rally. Yesterday gold hit a high of $1782 and in the last 24 hours has moved to lower pricing. As of 5:16 PM, EST gold futures are currently fixed at $1762.80 after factoring in today’s decline of $13 or 0.73%. This indicates the possibility that yesterday’s high marks the end of this leg of the current rally and could be followed by a correction taking gold to lower pricing. If the current correction results in a higher low than the last low we would get confirmation that the multi-month correction has indeed concluded.

The decline that occurred in gold over the last 24 hours is based upon recent comments by members of the US Federal Reserve in which they signaled that they would not abandon their current hawkish monetary policy to continue to reduce inflation to an acceptable level. The core PCE is still at approximately 6% which is three times the Federal Reserve’s target level of 2%.

While the amount of each rate hike could be reduced, their endgame is still to take inflation close to their target level. Therefore, while we could see interest rate hikes of 50-basis points rather than 75-basis points the Fed today signaled they would continue to raise rates until their objective of lowering inflation is met.

By Gary Wagner

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

 

David

Gold’s recent short-term trend is in a defined cycle – Rally, Consolidate, Repeat

Gold’s recent short-term trend is in a defined cycle – Rally, Consolidate, Repeat

Gold has shifted gears from extended rallies followed by a multi-month correction to its current almost parabolic upside move. This move began during the first week of November and continues to this day. In fact, we are getting the first indications that the extended correction at least for now has concluded and a new stage has begun. The best way to describe the characteristics of this recent rally is using a short-term 60-minute chart which clearly shows that gold is in a defined cycle. That cycle has three components; rally, consolidate, and repeat. The chart below is a 60-minute candlestick chart of gold futures which visibly illustrates that characteristic.

Gold has in all likelihood concluded the multi-month correction that began in March 2022. This extended correction began after gold completed a dynamic rally. This rally took gold futures from approximately $1780 during the first week of January to gold’s highest value in 2022 at approximately $2078, resulting in a $300 gain per ounce. After gold traded $10 below the record high of $2088 the precious yellow metal began an extended multi-month correction from March to November.

The chart below is a daily candlestick chart of gold futures from the beginning of January to November 16. After hitting $2078 in mid-March gold would trade through a series of lower highs and lower lows. Gold would trade to four consecutive lower highs and two consecutive lower lows before finding potential support defined by a near triple bottom that began at the end of September and concluded at the beginning of November at $1621.

Concurrently the Federal Reserve dramatically changed its extremely accommodative monetary policy during the FOMC meeting in March. On March 16, the Federal Reserve implemented its first interest rate hike since 2018. The Fed raised their benchmark “Fed funds” rate by 25 basis points taking the rate from 0 to 25 basis points to between 25 and 50 basis points. During the next FOMC meeting on May 4, the Fed would raise rates by 50 basis points taking Fed funds rates to between 75 and 100 basis points.

The Federal Reserve adjusted the size of each rate hike beginning at the June FOMC meeting. For the next three consecutive FOMC meetings (June, July, and September) the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by 75 basis points after each of their Federal Open Market Committee meetings. Currently, the Federal Reserve has set its benchmark rate between 375 and 400 basis points.

The chart below is also a daily Japanese candlestick chart of gold futures with the timeline of rate hikes added to the chart. There is not an exact correlation between the timeline of rate hikes and the lower lows that resulted from them, gold’s price decline of approximately $457 or -21.99% was for the most part the direct result of an exceedingly aggressive series of rate hikes.

It is now anticipated that the Federal Reserve will begin to change the size of any additional rate hikes beginning in December. According to the CME’s FedWatch tool, there is an 85.4% probability that the Fed will only raise rates by 50 basis points rather than 75 at the December FOMC meeting. The thought of the Federal Reserve easing the amount of each rate hike has given a tremendous boost to the price of gold.

The recent climb from $1621 to $1777 (the current price of December futures) is directly attributable to the belief that the Fed will ease the magnitude of the rate hikes in December and 2023. This is why we have seen such a strong rise which has taken gold futures to a higher high than its previous high for the first time since March. In under two weeks, gold has moved over $150 by having a rally, then consolidating, and then repeating the process.

By Gary Wagner

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

 

David

Gold advances on geopolitical trepidation as Russian missiles hit Poland

Gold advances on geopolitical trepidation as Russian missiles hit Poland

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been escalating to accelerated levels of military action. According to sources in Ukraine and reported by Reuters news, “Russia rained missiles on cities across Ukraine on Tuesday in what Ukraine said was the heaviest wave of missile strikes in nearly nine months of war, echoing a pattern in recent weeks of Moscow lashing out far from the front after battlefield losses.”

Today the Russian military launched over 100 missiles and drone attacks into Ukraine in the latest escalation of its invasion.

This escalation has led to missiles landing in Poland and killing two people in an explosion in Przewodow, a village in eastern Poland approximately 10 km from the border with Ukraine. Concerns have emerged that because Poland is a member of NATO, the Russian missile strike could certainly risk widening the war in Ukraine.

In a report by Reuters today, “Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday, without producing evidence, that Russian missiles had hit Poland, a NATO country, in what he called a "significant escalation" of the conflict.”

However, the Pentagon and the US State Department said they could not confirm the report but were working with the Polish government to gather information. The State Department did acknowledge that the report was “incredibly concerning”.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is now in its ninth month and has worsened with the largest wave of missile strikes many of which have targeted the Ukrainian civilian population. This most recent missile strike into Poland if confirmed triggers treaty articles by NATO under which NATO members will meet to assess the threat and if necessary take concrete action.

 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday, “It is up to Ukraine to decide what terms are acceptable for negotiations to bring an end to the war Russia is waging against the country, warning Moscow's strength should not be underestimated despite Kyiv's recent battlefield successes.

This is raised geopolitical uncertainty in the region to a new and heightened level which is been highly supportive of gold prices today. As of 4:54 PM EST gold futures basis, the most active December 2022 contract is up $4.90 and fixed at $1781.80. Today’s geopolitical uncertainty took gold to an intraday high of $1791.80. The dollar was trading higher earlier in the trading session but is currently trading fractionally lower. The dollar index is currently trading down 0.10% and fixed at 106.42.

By Gary Wagner

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

David

Gold recovers from lows even with Fed Governor Waller’s hawkish warning

Gold recovers from lows even with Fed Governor Waller's hawkish warning

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller told a conference in Sydney, Australia today, "We're not softening…Quit paying attention to the pace and start paying attention to where the endpoint is going to be. Until we get inflation down, that endpoint is still a way out there."

Gold traded to a low of $1762 at approximately 8:13 PM EST. This morning’s decline was the result of both dollar strength and a warning by Christopher Waller that the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy was not wavering from its strong commitment to continue to use rate hikes to fight against persistent inflation. On Sunday speaking at a conference sponsored by UBS Waller said that although the central bank is looking at the possibility of a slower pace of raising interest rates, this consideration should not be interpreted as a softening in its fight for price stability.

As of 3:33 PM, EST gold futures basis most active December 2022 contract is trading up $6.60 or 0.37% and fixed at $1776. This is just a few dollars off today’s high of $1778.40. Today’s gains in gold futures are occurring concurrently with dollar strength which has made today’s moderate gains even more impressive. Today the dollar index has gained +0.42% and is currently fixed at 106.605. After trading to a low of 106.20 on Friday the dollar has had a fractional recovery from those lows.

The table below is a month-by-month table of CPI from October 2021 to October 2022 issued by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last week’s CPI report revealed that inflation had a fractional decline moving from 8.2% in September to 7.7% year-over-year in October. Inflation has been elevated for an extended time considering that one year ago (Oct. 2021) headline inflation was over 6% and now in 2022 the CPI hasn’t declined but rather is higher than last Halloween when it felt like it might still be a trick. Now the public is aware that they were treated instead to a constantly climbing cost of living.

Although the aggressive rate hikes of the Federal Reserve have certainly had an impact on lowering inflation, a 1.4% decline taking the CPI to 7.7% is still at a level not seen before 2021 for over four decades. CPI at 7.7% is far away from the inflation target set by the Federal Reserve. The core CPI which excludes food and energy costs is just above 6% which is still triple the Fed’s inflation target of 2%.

This fact has been highly supportive of gold pricing and according to San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly, “It’s far from a victory”. Lorie Logan the Federal Reserve’s president of the Dallas central bank said that last week’s report is, “a welcome relief”, but will not alleviate the need for more rate increases possibly at a slower pace.

Currently, the probability of a 50-basis point rate hike at the December FOMC meeting continues to increase now at a probability of 85.4% which is a 5.2% increase from the probability recorded by the CME’s FedWatch tool on Friday.

By Gary Wagner

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

 

David

Gold sharply up as USDX, U.S. bond yields plummet after cooler CPI

Gold sharply up as USDX, U.S. bond yields plummet after cooler CPI

Gold and silver prices are solidly higher in midday U.S. trading Thursday, with gold scoring a 2.5-month high and silver a 4.5-month high, following a U.S. inflation report that came in just a bit cooler than market expectations and in turn pushed the U.S. dollar index and U.S. Treasury yields sharply lower. December gold was last up $38.60 at $1,737.90 and December silver was up $0.323 at $21.66.

The U.S. consumer price index report for October came in up 7.7%, year-on-year, versus expectations for a rise of 7.9%, year-on-year, and compares to the 8.2% rise seen in the September report. This report may be the most important data point of the month, if not the quarter. A slightly cooler reading in the CPI print may influence the Federal Reserve"s decision-making process ahead of its December FOMC meeting. The Wall Street Journal is reporting the Fed is likely to raise its Fed funds rate by 0.5% in December, following a string of 0.75% increases at past FOMC meetings.

The U.S. stock indexes soared on the cooler CPI print, with Bitcoin also posting solid gains after the report. However, the crypto currency markets remain in turmoil late this week, with fears of a contagion effect and more illiquidity in the cryptos. Broker SP Angel this morning reports in an email dispatch: A proposed takeover of likely insolvent FTX crypto exchange by rival Binance is set to fail, sending Bitcoin down 26% this week and triggering concerns of wider market contagion. FTX exchange, whose founder Sam Bankman-Fried (likened to John Pierpont Morgan during the banking crisis of 1907), is looking for support for a reported $8 billion debt shortfall. The exchange"s insolvency has triggered a further step down in crypto market values, with the total crypto market cap standing at $914 billion, down from over $3 trillion in November 2021. JP Morgan are reporting crypto market participants are facing a "cascade" of margin calls, although it is unclear whether this will feed into wider equity markets.

 Gold and manipulation: The Ultimate Gold Panel with Frank Giustra & Rick Rule

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index sharply down and hit a two-month low after the cooler CPI. Nymex crude oil prices are higher and trading around $87.25 a barrel. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note is yielding 3.852% and has fallen sharply in the wake of the cooler CPI report.

Technically, December gold futures prices hit a 2.5-month high today. The gold futures bulls and bears are back on a level overall near-term technical playing field. Bulls have momentum as a price downtrend on the daily bar chart has been negated. Prices this week have also seen a bullish upside breakout from a trading range, to suggest still more upside in the near term. Bulls" next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $1,800.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at the November low of $1,618.30. First resistance is seen at today"s high of $1,757.20 and then at $1,775.00. First support is seen at $1,738.70 and then at $1,725.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.0.

December silver futures prices hit a 4.5-month high today. The silver bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage and have momentum. Prices are in a choppy nine-week-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $23.00. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $20.00. First resistance is seen at today"s high of $21.94 and then at $22.50. Next support is seen at $21.00 and then at this week"s low of $20.435. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5.

December N.Y. copper closed up 720 points at 377.15 cents today. Prices closed nearer the session high and hit a four-month high today. The copper bulls have gained the overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a six-week-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at 400.00 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the October low of 330.30 cents. First resistance is seen at 380.00 cents and then at 390.00 cents. First support is seen at today"s low of 362.85 cents and then at this week"s low of 356.25 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0.

By Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

David

Gold price surges $50, should investors be selling into the rally?

Gold price surges $50, should investors be selling into the rally?

Gold prices surged nearly $50 on Friday as the latest U.S. jobs report clarified some of the Federal Reserve's mixed messages, and China signaled a possible easing of its Covid-Zero policy. But caution is still advised as all previous quick rallies have been used as selling opportunities.

Gold has had a spectacular start to November after reporting the longest streak of monthly losses in more than five decades.

The news-filled week led to confusion in the marketplace after the Fed raised rates by 75 basis points for the fourth time in a row.

On the dovish end of things, Powell said that the U.S. central bank is now paying close attention to "the cumulative tightening" and potential "lags" with which monetary policy affects inflation and economic activity.

But on the hawkish side, the Fed chair stressed that the "ultimate level" of rates will need to be higher than previously expected and added that the window for a soft landing has "narrowed."

Things looked up for gold on Friday morning when the October U.S. jobs report showed the unemployment rate rising to 3.7% despite the higher-than-expected job gains.

"This report shows that the labor market is cooling, and that is good news. Gold is surging as the dollar is having its worst day since March 2020," OANDA senior market analyst Edward Moya told Kitco News. "The market now believes that the Fed has got a good handle on things and could go at a slower pace."

But a slowdown in the pace of rate hikes does not mean that the Fed won't go higher. "Markets are starting to price in the Fed going to 5.25%, and 2-year yield is nowhere near that," Moya said.

Following the news, the 2-year Treasury yield rose more than 50 basis points and pushed above the 10-year yield — a key recession gauge that is now sitting near 40-year highs.

"The market is thinking that the economy is slowing down, and that is reflected in the yield curve here, with the 2-year and the 10-year," TD Securities global head of commodity markets strategy Bart Melek told Kitco News.

But that is not even the whole picture. Market expectations of China easing up on its Covid-Zero policy also pushed gold higher. "We are getting speculation that China will lift those Covid-Zero restrictions or at least ease up on them, which is rallying the entire market," Melek said.

Views on the rally

Despite the stellar performance on Friday, many analysts don't believe this rally will last, as the longer-term trend for gold has been bearish.

"This is most likely a short squeeze type of rally that should be sold here," Melek said. "It's too early for gold to move up. The Fed is not finished yet."

TD Securities is projecting for gold to fall below $1,600 in the next few months as it sees the federal funds rate peaking at 5.5% instead of the previous projections of below 5%. "As the economy slows, you will start seeing real rates jump. And central banks won't be buying as much gold as they did this last quarter. The cost of carrying will be expensive," Melek added.

Every time gold has rallied recently, selling came into the market, Phoenix Futures and Options president Kevin Grady told Kitco News. "We saw a lot of people getting out of gold earlier, and this is a short-covering rally. Gold is still going to have a tough time," he said.

All eyes are now on gold's "pivotal level," which is at around $1,685 an ounce. "This is the high end of the range we've been stuck in," said RJO Futures senior market strategist Frank Cholly. "We'll probably see a rejection of this rally."

At the time of writing, December Comex gold futures were trading at $1,676.40, up 2.79% on the day.

Cholly advised getting out of long positions and taking some profits before the dollar strength came back. But if gold moves above the $1,685 an ounce level, then the outlook changes. "If we are above $1,685, then I'll rethink that strategy," he told Kitco News.

Whether or not gold can get above the next key resistance level and then move to $1,700 an ounce will depend on next week's inflation data. If the data shows price pressures coming down, gold could move up into that territory, said Moya. But a hotter-than-expected number would set a bearish tone.

Market consensus calls are looking for the October CPI number to slow to 8% from September's 8.2%.

Next week's data to watch

Thursday: U.S. CPI, jobless claims

Friday: Michigan consumer sentiment
 

By Anna Golubova

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

David

Gold price sharply up after Goldilocks U.S. jobs report

Gold price sharply up after "Goldilocks" U.S. jobs report

Gold and silver prices are sharply higher in early U.S. trading Friday, boosted by a U.S. jobs report that landed in the sweet spot of marketplace expectations for the report. Silver prices notched a three-week high. Strong gains in crude oil prices and a weaker U.S. dollar index are also bullish outside market forces for the metals on this day. Short covering by futures traders is featured in both precious metals markets to end the trading week. December gold was last up $28.40 at $1,659.60 and December silver was up $0.785 at $20.22.

The just-released monthly U.S. employment report for October from the Labor Department showed the key non-farm payrolls number up 261,000, which was above the expected rise of 205,000 and compares to the gain of 263,000 seen in the September report. Gold prices added to their solid overnight gains after the release of the report, as analysis are saying this is a Goldilocks report that is "not too hot and not too cold"—meaning it is not too strong to prompt the Federal Reserve to become more aggressive in tightening its monetary policy, nor is it too weak to cause more concern about a U.S. economic recession.

Global stock markets were mostly higher overnight. U.S. stock indexes are headed for higher openings when the New York day session begins, on corrective bounces from the selling pressure seen the past three sessions, and on the U.S. job report numbers landing in the "sweet spot" of the marketplace expectations.

In overnight news, the Euro zone September producer price index came in at up 41.9%, year-on-year, which was near expectations. Soaring energy costs in Europe are driving the PPI sharply up.

Gold price to trade at $1,700 next year as Fed, dollar outlooks shift, says Capital Economics

The silver market bulls have outperformed gold bulls recently. One reason may be rising demand for India. Broker SP Angel today said in an email dispatch: "Silver India's insatiable appetite for silver eats into global warehouse inventories. Analysts expect Indian silver consumption to haveincreased over 80% this year. Indian silver buying was hit hard over the two covid years but 2022 purchases have seen a major jump in demand. Traders are reporting London and Hong Kong warehouse inventory levels, as pent-up demand feeds into the market."

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index lower on a corrective pullback from strong gains Thursday. Nymex crude oil prices are sharply higher and trading around $91.50 a barrel. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note is yielding around 4.2%.

Other U.S. economic data due for release Friday includes the global services purchasing managers' index.

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Technically, the gold futures bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $1,700.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,600.00. First resistance is seen at this week's high of $1,673.10 and then at $1,679.40. First support is seen at $1,650.00 and then at the overnight low of $1,631.10. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.0

The silver bulls have regained the overall near-term technical advantage. A choppy uptrend is in place on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the October high of $21.31. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $18.00. First resistance is seen at $20.50 and then at $21.00. Next support is seen at $20.00 and then at the overnight low of $19.425. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0.

By Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

David

Gold, silver down amid strong greenback, rising bond yields

Gold, silver down amid strong greenback, rising bond yields

Gold and silver prices are lower in midday U.S. trading Thursday, with gold hitting a six-week low in overnight dealings. Silver prices have rebounded well off daily lows. Very sharp gains in the U.S. dollar index and rising U.S. Treasury yields, along with lower crude oil prices, pressured the precious metals markets today. December gold was last down $22.20 at $1,627.80 and December silver was down $0.239 at $19.36.

A still-hawkish Federal Reserve is keeping the metals market bulls squelched. The Fed's Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement Wednesday afternoon initially was viewed as less hawkish. The U.S. central bank raised its main Fed funds rate by 0.75%, to 4.0%, as expected. The FOMC statement said the Fed will take into consideration the health of the U.S. economy after its recent "cumulative tightening." The markets initially read that statement as leaning less hawkish on U.S. monetary policy going forward. The U.S. dollar index sold off and U.S. Treasury yields dropped, while U.S. stock indexes and gold rallied. However, once Fed Chairman Powell started speaking at his press conference and took a still-hard line on the Fed's intent to keep raising rates to stop problematic price inflation, the aforementioned markets promptly reversed course. "Powell dropped the hammer," quipped one business TV anchor. Powell in his presser implied the Fed's terminal interest rate may have to rise higher than earlier Fed expectations—likely above 5%–and stay at that higher level for longer. Notions of a Fed pivot on its aggressive monetary policy tightening were dashed at Powell's presser. More hawkish central banks and in turn weaker economies also suggest less consumer and commercial demand for the metals.

Expect a '75 bps hike,' as Powell zeroes in on inflation – Chance Finucane

Global stock markets were mostly lower overnight. U.S. stock indexes are lower at midday. Risk-off attitudes are keener in the marketplace late this week.

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index very sharply higher. Nymex crude oil prices are lower and trading around $89.00 a barrel. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note is yielding 4.149%.

Focus quickly turns to Friday's monthly U.S. employment report for October from the Labor Department. The key non-farm payrolls number is expected to come in at up 205,000, compared to a rise of 263,000 in the September report.

Technically, the gold futures bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a longer-term downtrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $1,700.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,600.00. First resistance is seen at today's high of $1,643.20 and then at $1,650.00. First support is seen at today's low of $1,618.30 and then at $1,600.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 1.0.

The silver bulls have the slight overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are still in a choppy two-month-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the October high of $21.31. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $18.00. First resistance is seen at $19.60 and then at this week's high of $20.11. Next support is seen at $19.00 and then at today's low of $18.805. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.5.

December N.Y. copper closed down 385 points at 342.95 cents today. Prices closed near mid-range today. The copper bears have the overall near-term technical advantage. However, recent price action suggests a market bottom is in place. Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at the September high of 369.25 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the September low of 324.30 cents. First resistance is seen at this week's high of 350.85 cents and then at the October high of 359.30 cents. First support is seen at this week's low of 336.15 and then at the October low of 330.30 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 4.0.

By Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

David

Gold prices move near session highs as Federal Reserve raises interest rates 75 basis points

Gold prices move near session highs as Federal Reserve raises interest rates 75 basis points

The gold market is seeing some new buying momentum as the Federal Reserve looks to slightly adjust its aggressive monetary policy stance.

In a widely anticipated move, the Federal Reserve raised its Fed Funds rate by 75 basis points. This is the fourth consecutive supersized rate hike this year. While the central bank remains focused on bringing inflation down, it does appear to be adjusting its stance.

"The Committee anticipates that ongoing increases in the target range will be appropriate in order to attain a stance of monetary policy that is sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to 2 percent over time. In determining the pace of future increases in the target range, the Committee will take into account the cumulative tightening of monetary policy, the lags with which monetary policy affects economic activity and inflation, and economic and financial developments.

Analysts and economists expected the Federal Reserve to signal a slowdown in its tightening cycle in December and through the early part of 2023

December gold futures last traded at $1,661.70 an ounce, up 0.77% on the day. "The market read that statement as leaning less hawkish on U.S. monetary policy going forward," said Jim Wyckoff, senior technical analyst at Kitco.com.

Katherine Judge, senior economist at CIBC, said that the more nuanced messaging in the statement gives the central bank a platform to slow the pace of rate hikes. However, she added that terminal rate expectations remain in place.

"Today's statement is still consistent with the median dot plot projections released back in September, which showed rates reaching 4.25-4.50% by year end (i.e. a further 50bp hike in December), and between 4.50-4.75% next year," she said in a note. "Our own forecast doesn't include that final 25bp hike in 2023, as we expect to see evidence that GDP and employment growth is slowing more than the Fed previously anticipated by then."

Some economists note that the Federal Reserve still sees resilient strength and high inflation in the economy. The Fed reiterated its stance that it is committed to brining inflation back down to its 2% objective.

"Recent indicators point to modest growth in spending and production. Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated, reflecting supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic, higher food and energy prices, and broader price pressures," the statement said. "The Committee is highly attentive to inflation risks."

Paul Ashworth, Chief North America Economist at Capital Economics, said that with interest rates in restrictive territory the U.S. central bank has room to slow the pace of its tightening.

“Barring another upside inflation surprise in the October and November CPI reports, which we can’t completely rule out, it looks like the Fed is laying the groundwork to shift down to a 50bp hike in December and, if we’re right that core inflation will start to show signs of slowing soon, a 25bp rate hike at the January meeting next year,” he said.

By Neils Christensen

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

David

Gold, silver gain on ideas of better future demand from China

Gold, silver gain on ideas of better future demand from China

Gold and silver prices are higher in midday U.S. trading Tuesday, but down from daily highs as the U.S. dollar index has rebounded from solid early losses. Falling U.S. Treasury yields on this day are supporting the precious metals markets. Some potentially positive news coming out of China is also working in favor of the metals market bulls. December gold was last up $8.00 at $1,648.50 and December silver was up $0.556 at $19.67.

Global stock and commodity markets were buoyed today by upbeat reports coming out of China. China stock markets rallied Tuesday on rumors the Chinese government has a plan to phase out its "zero covid" policies by as soon as March. China stock prices did back off their highs on reports Foreign Minister Zhao Lijian said he is not aware of the matter. China is the world's second-largest economy and if it gets rolling again, such would be significantly bullish on the demand front for commodities, including gold and silver.

Global stock markets were mostly firmer overnight. U.S. stock indexes are lower at midday on profit taking. Stock traders are done with the historically rocky months of September and October, after having a very good October, with near-term price uptrends in place on the daily charts for the indexes.

In other overnight news, Australia's central bank raised one of its main interest rates by 0.25%.

The World Gold Council has reportedly seen substantial, unreported buying of the yellow metal, as central bank bullion purchases hit a record in the third quarter. Reports said 400 metric tons of gold were bought by central banks last quarter, pushing purchases up to their highest since 1967. "Meantime, ETF selling amid soaring U.S. real yields has pushed gold prices lower, while central bankers have been meeting depressed prices with open arms," said broker SP Angel in an email dispatch Tuesday morning. The WGC reports Turkey and Qatar both ramped up purchases, with China and Russia also expected to be partaking, although their purchases are not reported, said the broker.

Gold demand hits pre-pandemic levels, increasing 28% in the third quarter despite dismal investor interest – World Gold Council

Traders are looking ahead to the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting that begins Tuesday morning and ends Wednesday afternoon with a statement and a press conference from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. Most expect the FOMC to raise the Fed funds rate by another 0.75%. Traders and investors also want to see what comments the FOMC and Powell make regarding the future path of U.S. monetary policy—specifically, when the Fed will back off the accelerator on aggressively raising interest rates.

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index slightly up. Nymex crude oil prices are higher and trading around $88.25 a barrel. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note is yielding 4.044%.

Technically, the gold futures bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are still in a longer-term downtrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $1,700.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,600.00. First resistance is seen at today's high of $1,660.30 and then at $1,670.90. First support is seen at today's low of $1,633.60 and then at the October low of $1,641.20. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.5.

December silver futures prices hit a three-week high today. The silver bulls have gained the slight overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are now in a two-month-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the October high of $21.31. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $18.00. First resistance is seen at today's high of $20.04 and then at $20.50. Next support is seen at $19.50 and then at today's low of $19.085. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.5.

December N.Y. copper closed up 980 points at 347.30 cents today. Prices closed nearer the session high today. The copper bears still have the overall near-term technical advantage. However, recent price action suggests a market bottom is in place. Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at the September high of 369.25 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the September low of 324.30 cents. First resistance is seen at today's high of 350.15 cents and then at the October high of 359.30 cents. First support is seen at this week's low of 336.15 and then at the October low of 330.30 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 4.0.

By Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to buy Gold and Silver on the dips

David