Gold prices down as risk appetite ticks up - Kitco NEWS

Gold prices down as risk appetite ticks up - Kitco NEWS

(Kitco News) - Gold prices are lower in early U.S. futures trading Friday. The safe-haven metal on this day is being pressured by upbeat trader and investor attitudes to end the trading week, despite the specter of the coronavirus outbreak worsening. The metals are also pressured in part by the steep drop in crude oil prices, which hit a two-month low Thursday. February gold futures were last down $8.00 an ounce at 1,557.50. March Comex silver prices were last up $0.001 at $17.83 an ounce.

Asian and European stock markets were mostly up overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed higher openings when the New York day session begins. European markets were boosted from some upbeat economic data Friday, as the composite purchasing managers index (PMI) came in at 50.9 in January, unchanged from December. The German manufacturing PMI for January came in at 45.2 and beat market expectations. The German manufacturing PMI was reported at 43.7 in December. A reading above 50.0 suggests expansion. European traders were encouraged that economic workhorse Germany is seeing its manufacturing sector improve.

The marketplace this week has waffled on the coronavirus illness that is impacting China and has now killed at least 26 of its citizens, with nearly 1,000 contracting the illness and several cities in China on lockdown. One day the markets are spooked by the matter and then next day they  seem to ignore it. Reports Friday said the breakout of coronavirus could lop off over 1% of China’s annual GDP, especially as the main holiday in China, the Lunar New Year, starts this weekend. At least one case of the virus has been found in the U.S. and one has been reported in Singapore. The U.S. State Department on Thursday advised U.S. citizens to reconsider traveling to the impacted regions of China. It’s likely this situation will get worse before it gets better.

The key outside markets today see crude oil prices weaker and trading around $55.35 a barrel. Prices Thursday hit a two-month low as prices are in a steep near-term downtrend.
Meantime, the U.S. dollar index is higher and hit a seven-week high overnight, as the USDX is trending up.

U.S. economic data due for release Friday includes the U.S. flash services PMI and the manufacturing PMI.

Technically, the gold bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage, but the January spike high is still strong chart resistance to overcome. A price uptrend is still in place on the daily chart. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close in February futures above solid resistance at the September high of $1,571.70. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,525.00. First resistance is seen at the overnight high of $1,562.90 and then at this week’s high of $1,568.80. First support is seen at $1,550.00 and then at $1,541.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5

March silver futures bulls and bears are on a level overall near-term technical playing field. Silver bulls' next upside price breakout objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the January high of $18.895 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $17.00. First resistance is seen at Thursday’s high of $17.91 and then at $18.00. Next support is seen at this week’s low of $17.59 and then at $17.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.0.

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2020-01-24 13:08:00Z
https://www.kitco.com/news/2020-01-24/Gold-prices-down-as-risk-appetite-ticks-up.html
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