Just like the canary in a coal mine, the Federal Reserve utilizes economic data to ascertain the current economic environment.

It is that time of year, when the Federal Reserve’s Chairwoman Janet Yellen provides testimony to both the Congress and Senate. This semiannual monetary policy report began yesterday with testimony given to the congressional financial services committee.

Now in the third straight day of price advances, gold prices have moved up roughly $15 from the low achieved earlier this week when gold traded to $1204 an ounce.