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(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are modestly lower in midday U.S. trading Thursday, pressured by solid gains in the U.S. dollar index today. Losses in the metals are limited by gains in the crude oil market today. October gold futures were last down $4.20 at $1,762.20. September Comex silver futures were last down $0.181 at $19.555 an ounce.

The marketplace Thursday quickly digested Wednesday afternoon's minutes from the last FOMC meeting of the Federal Reserve. Traders deemed the minutes neutral to just slightly dovish and markets showed no significant reactions to them. The CME Fed funds rate futures are now showing slightly better odds for a 0.5% rate hike at the September FOMC meeting.

Global stock markets were mixed overnight, with Asian indexes mostly down and European indexes mostly up. U.S. stock indexes are mixed to firmer at midday. The U.S. stock indexes have been enjoying price uptrends on the daily charts since early June, and that's another underlying bearish factor for the safe-haven metals markets.  

In overnight news, the Euro zone consumer price index for July came in hot, at up 8.9%, year-on-year.

The key outside markets today see Nymex crude oil prices higher and trading around $90.00 a barrel. The U.S. dollar index is solidly higher and hit a three-week high in midday U.S. trading. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note is fetching around 2.85%.

Technically, October gold futures prices hit a two-week low today. The gold futures bears have the overall near-term technical advantage and have momentum on their side. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at the August high of $1,814.40. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,700.00. First resistance is seen at today's high of $1,775.90 and then at Wednesday's high of 1,786.30. First support is seen at the August low of $1,759.70 and then at $1,750.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 3.0.

September silver futures prices hit a two-week low today. The silver bears have the overall near-term technical advantage and have momentum. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $22.00. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $19.00. First resistance is seen at $20.00 and then at $20.25. Next support is seen at $19.47 and then at $19.25. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 3.0.

September N.Y. copper closed up 550 points at 363.70 cents today. Prices closed nearer the session high today and scored a bullish "outside day" up. The copper bulls and bears are on a level overall near-term technical playing field. Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at 385.00 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at 330.00 cents. First resistance is seen at the August high of 371.30 cents and then at 380.00 cents. First support is seen at today's low of 354.20 cents and then at 350.00 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.0.

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