(Kitco News) - Gold prices are slightly higher in midday U.S. trading Tuesday, on a mild rebound from selling pressure Monday. Silver is lower, hit a more-than-three-month low today and has seen some chart damage inflicted recently. Gold and silver traders are watching the important outside markets early this week, amid a lack of major, markets-moving fundamental news. August gold futures were last up $1.50 at $1,810.70 and September Comex silver was last down $0.179 at $24.965 an ounce.
The U.S. dollar index is a bit firmer at midday and hit a 3.5-month high today. That's bearish for the metals markets. Meantime, Nymex crude oil prices are firmer on a corrective bounce after dropping sharply and hitting a five-week low on Monday, and are trading around $67.00 a barrel. Commodity market traders need to watch the crude oil market extra closely this week. If crude shows solid follow-through selling pressure from Monday's big losses, such would suggest a market top is in place. That would also be bad news for raw commodity market bulls. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is presently fetching 1.2%.
Global stock markets were mixed overnight. The U.S. stock indexes are higher at midday, on corrective bounces after suffering sharp losses on Monday. Trader and investor risk appetite is fading at mid-summer, as the newer Delta Covid-19 strain that is surging in some regions of the world, including parts of the U.S., raises concerns about a slowing global economy.
![Live 24 hours gold chart [Kitco Inc.]](https://www.kitco.com/images/live/gold.gif?0.2924175530478188){kind=small}
Technically, gold futures bulls have the slight overall near-term technical advantage but a price uptrend on the daily bar chart is in some jeopardy. Bulls need to show fresh power soon to keep the uptrend alive. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $1,850.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,775.00. First resistance is seen at today's high of $1,825.90 and then at $1,835.00. First support is seen at today's low of $1,805.20 and then at $1,800.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.5
![Live 24 hours silver chart [ Kitco Inc. ]](https://www.kitco.com/images/live/silver.gif)
The silver bears have the firm overall near-term technical advantage as prices have seen a bearish downside "breakout" from a sideways trading range. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing September futures prices above solid technical resistance at $26.00 an ounce. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at the March low of $23.825. First resistance is seen at the overnight high of $25.315 and then at $25.58. Next support is seen at today's low of $24.84 and then at $24.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 3.0.
