Gold Higher Ahead of FOMC Meeting

September 20, 2017 Share Print 0

Gold prices are higher in early U.S. trading, on bargain hunting and short covering ahead of the conclusion of an important Federal Reserve meeting Wednesday afternoon. There is also a bit of safe-haven demand for gold following a fiery speech by U.S. President Trump at the U.N. on Tuesday. December Comex gold was last up $7.50 an ounce at $1,318.10. December Comex silver prices were last up $0.111 at $17.39 an ounce.

World markets have paused ahead of the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting that began Tuesday morning and ends Wednesday afternoon with a statement. No interest rate changes are expected from the FOMC at this meeting. However, it is expected the Fed will announce it is drawing down its big balance sheet of securities. Fed Chair Janet Yellen will hold a press conference after the FOMC meeting ends. Also, the Federal Reserve will release new economic projections. The inflation projections will be examined very closely.

The key outside markets on Wednesday morning see the U.S. dollar index slightly weaker. The greenback bears remain in firm technical control. Meantime, Nymex crude oil futures are higher this morning. The oil bulls have the slight near-term technical advantage as prices hover around $50 a barrel.

Other U.S. economic data due for release Wednesday includes the weekly MBA mortgage applications survey, existing home sales and the weekly DOE liquid energy stocks report.

via Kitco

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

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Alfonso Esparza

Senior Currency Analyst at Market Pulse

Alfonso Esparza specializes in macro forex strategies for North American and major currency pairs. Upon joining OANDA in 2007, Alfonso Esparza established the MarketPulseFX blog and he has since written extensively about central banks and global economic and political trends. Alfonso has also worked as a professional currency trader focused on North America and emerging markets. He has been published by The MarketWatch, Reuters, the Wall Street Journal and The Globe and Mail, and he also appears regularly as a guest commentator on networks including Bloomberg and BNN. He holds a finance degree from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) and an MBA with a specialization on financial engineering and marketing from the University of Toronto.