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Gold Scores Fractional Gains Amid Falling Stock Prices

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U.S. equities once again traded under tremendous pressure, down almost 800 points at the intraday low today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has traded to a low which amounted to a 1,500 point drop this week before recovering in the afternoon session. With 45 minutes remaining in trading, as of 4:15 PM Eastern Standard Time, the Dow was trading off by 344 points at 24,681, and by the close was only down 76 points.

The precious metals complex, with the exception of gold, is trading lower on the day. Palladium, which has been running to all-time new record high prices, is down over 3% today with palladium futures currently fixed at $1,147 for a net decline of $37.40. Platinum actually broke below $800 as it sold off today, resulting in losses of 1.67%. Platinum futures are currently fixed at $788.60.

The only precious metal to gain value in trading today was gold. Currently, gold futures basis the most active February contract is trading up $0.40 at $1,243 per ounce. All of the precious metals were supported by a weaker U.S. dollar which is down 25 points and currently fixed at 96.755.

Although traders have not witnessed gold prices selling off, as often is the case when we have a significant downturn in U.S. equities, safe haven buying has been limited, to say the least.

In an interview with MarketWatch, Mark O’Byrne, research director at GoldCore said, “As is frequently the case, gold can suffer in the initial market sell-off and be correlated with risk assets. However, it tends to bottom quicker and bounce and display an inverse correlation to risk assets. This is especially the case over the long term—meaning a quarterly or annual basis.”

Traders and market participants are intensely focused on tomorrow’s Labor Department’s non-farm payroll jobs report. The economic forecast for tomorrow’s reports is that there were 198,000 jobs added last month. Today ADP reported that 179,000 jobs were added by private employers in November, very close to the expected forecast by economists of 190,000 new jobs.

Jerome Powell Chairman of the Federal Reserve will be speaking today, and market participants will listen carefully for any insight as to whether or not the Fed is on track to raise rates one more time at the FOMC meeting this month.

Wishing as always, good trading,

Gary S. Wagner - Executive Producer