(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices solidly higher in midday U.S. trading Thursday, boosted in the wake of the Federal Reserve raising its main interest rate by a quarter-point, but also suggesting rates will not continue to rise. A depreciating U.S. dollar on the foreign exchange market is also working in favor of the metals market bulls late this week. April gold was last up $47.70 at $1,996.90 and May silver was up $0.509 at $23.30.
While the Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting produced a mostly expected quarter-point rate hike, Fed Chair Powell at his press conference leaned a bit more dovish than he had been in recent months. That boosted the precious metals and briefly rallied the U.S. stock indexes. However, what rattled the U.S. stock market late in the session Wednesday was comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen at a Senate hearing that the federal government has no plans to protect all bank deposits that are not FDIC-insured.
Global stock markets were mixed overnight. U.S. stock indexes are sharply higher at midday.
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Consumers cash in on unwanted gold as its price soars amid a spreading bank crisis |
The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index weaker and at a seven-week low. Nymex crude oil futures prices are near steady and trading around $71.00 a barrel. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is presently fetching around 3.45%.
![Live 24 hours gold chart [Kitco Inc.]](https://www.kitco.com/images/live/gold.gif?0.2924175530478188){kind=small}
Technically, April gold futures bulls have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a fledgling uptrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls’ next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at this week’s high of $2,014.90. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,922.30. First resistance is seen at $2,000.00 and then at $2,014.90. First support is seen at today’s low of $1,967.30 and then at $1,950.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 8.0
![Live 24 hours silver chart [ Kitco Inc. ]](https://www.kitco.com/images/live/silver.gif)
May silver futures prices hit a seven-week high today. The silver bulls have the firm overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a steep, fledgling uptrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $24.00. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $22.00. First resistance is seen at $23.50 and then at $23.75. Next support is seen at $23.00 and then at $22.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 7.0.
May N.Y. copper closed up 795 points at 412.35 cents today. Prices closed near the session high and hit a three-week high today. The copper bulls have gained the overall near-term technical advantage. A two-month-old downtrend on the daily bar chart has been negated. Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at the January high of 435.90 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the March low of 382.20 cents. First resistance is seen at 415.00 cents and then at 420.00 cents. First support is seen at 405.00 cents and then at 400.00 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0.
