Gold price near steady in quieter Friday action

NEW YORK (March 21) 

Gold prices are near steady in early U.S. trading Friday, while silver prices are modestly down. It was a quieter overnight session, with no major news developments. No major U.S. economic data is due out today. April gold was last up $0.30 at $3,044.10. May silver prices were last down $0.231 at $33.76.

There may be some profit-taking pressure from the shorter-term futures surface in gold today, ahead of the weekend. However, the gold bulls will also be looking to buy any significant price dips.

Asian and European stock markets were mixed to weaker overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed to weaker openings when the New York day session begins. Stock and financial market traders and investors appear a bit less anxious late this week but by no means overly confident.

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index slightly higher. Nymex crude oil futures prices are slightly down and trading around $67.75 a barrel. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note is presently 4.214%.

There is no major U.S. economic data due for release Friday.

KitcoNews