An examination of the daily bar charts for gold (GCJ26) and silver (SIH26) futures shows that daily price volatility has declined from levels seen in late January and early February. In other words, the daily price bars are smaller than those seen in that earlier timeframe. However, make no mistake: The gold and silver markets are by no means calm. Just last week, silver futures had a $10 daily trading range and gold a $220 daily trading range. Last summer, those trading ranges were nearly unfathomable. ...

Economic Performance - The U.S. economy added 130,000 non-farm payrolls in January, significantly higher than the revised figure of 48,000 in December and above forecasts of 55,000, marking the highest NFP figure since December 2024 [1] - Total U.S. non-farm employment growth for 2025 was revised down to +181,000 from +584,000, indicating average monthly job gains of just 15,000, well below the previously reported 49,000 [2] - The overall unemployment rate decreased to 4.3% in January from 4.4% in December [2] Market Reactions - Following the strong U.S. jobs report, gold and silver futures maintained their overnight gains, while U.S. Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar index increased, and U.S. stock indexes rallied [3] - The likelihood of a March U.S. interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve has dropped to less than 15%, with expectations shifting towards maintaining the current Fed funds range of 3.5%–3.75% [7] - Traders are now anticipating only two potential U.S. rate cuts later in the year instead of immediate action [7] Precious Metals Dynamics - The price action in gold and silver markets suggests that underlying supply and demand fundamentals, such as safe-haven demand, hoarding, and central bank buying of gold, are prevailing over expectations of fewer U.S. interest rate cuts amid a stronger economy [10]

The spectacular meltdowns in gold (GCJ26) and silver (SIH26) prices on Friday sent spooked commodity bulls to the sidelines. Grains futures traders could not help but keep their eyes glued to that day’s record-setting price downdrafts in gold and silver futures. Silver’s 26% plunge on Friday was the biggest on record, while gold dropped 9% in its worst day in more than a decade. Copper (HGH26) traders were already reeling after a sudden spike past $14,500 a ton that unraveled just as fast. Grain futures ...