Gold, Silver Buyers Squelched Lower By Higher US Dollar, Low Risk Aversion

New York (Mar 15)  Gold and silver prices were ending the U.S. day session lower and near their daily lows Thursday. Both futures markets were poised to close at two-week low closes today. A stronger U.S. dollar on this day and still-keen investor risk appetite around the globe kept buyers of the safe-haven metals on the sidelines. April Comex gold futures were last down $8.80 an ounce at $1,316.90. May Comex silver was last down $0.127 at $16.41 an ounce.

World stock markets were mostly firmer today. U.S. stock indexes were higher at midday. The world stock markets are presently looking past the potentially big speedbumps of a possible global trade war and perceived turmoil in the Trump Administration.

Reports today said the Trump administration is set to soon unveil more trade restrictions on China, after the U.S. has concluded China has been unfairly coercing U.S. firms to transfer their technology to China for years. This could become a major element in the world marketplace if the two largest world economies engage in a tit-for-tat trade war.

The key “outside markets” on Thursday saw the U.S. dollar index higher. Trading in the USDX has been choppy and sideways recently. Meantime, Nymex crude oil prices were modestly higher. The International Energy Agency said Wednesday that increasing world oil demand will offset the rise in U.S. shale-oil production, to keep the world supply and demand situation in balance.

Technically, April gold futures prices closed near the session low today. The gold bulls and bears are back on a level overall near-term technical playing field amid recent choppy trading. Gold bulls' next upside near-term price breakout objective is to produce a close above solid technical resistance at the March high of $1,342.00. Bears' next near-term downside price breakout objective is pushing prices below solid technical support at $1,300.00.

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