Gold And Silver Prices Push Higher On Non-Hawkish FOMC Statement
New York (May 2) Gold and silver prices moved moderately higher in the wake of a somewhat dovish FOMC statement from the Federal Reserve Wednesday afternoon. The Fed officials signaled they are not worried about inflationary price pressures becoming problematic. Such suggests the U.S. central bank won’t become too aggressive on raising interest rates. June Comex gold futures were last up $4.20 an ounce at $1,311.40. July Comex silver was last up $0.363 at $16.485 an ounce.
The key U.S. markets event Wednesday is the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting that just ended with a statement. No change in U.S. interest rates was announced, as expected. On the inflation front, FOMC members said they expect U.S. inflation to be around 2.0% on an annual basis, which is right where the Fed wants it.
On Monday the U.S. Commerce Department issued a report saying overall U.S. price inflation, via personal consumption expenditures, has reached the Fed’s goal of 2.0% annually. This latest statement implies two more interest rate increases this year, with the first one being in June.
Another important U.S. data point today was the ADP national employment report for April, which showed a rise of 204,000. The number was forecast to be up 190,000 jobs. The gold market moved little after the release of this report.
A U.S. high-level trade delegation travels to China Thursday to try to avert a trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
On Friday is the U.S. employment report from the Labor Department—arguably the most important U.S. data point of the month.
The outside markets today saw the U.S. dollar index higher and hitting another 4.5-month high. Meantime, Nymex crude oil prices were slightly up and trading around $67.50 a barrel.
Live 24 hours gold chart [Kitco Inc.]
Technically, the gold bulls and bears are on a level overall near-term technical playing field, but the bears have momentum on their side. A close below major psychological support at $1,300.00 would open the door to a larger leg down in prices in the near term. Gold bulls' next upside near-term price breakout objective is to produce a close above solid technical resistance at last week’s high of $1,337.60. Bears' next near-term downside price breakout objective is pushing prices below solid technical support at $1,300.00. First resistance is seen at today’s high of $1,312.50 and then at Tuesday’s high of $1,317.40.
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