Gold sees modest price gains, bulls still have momentum

(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are trading mildly up in early U.S. trading Tuesday. Both metals have seen their near-term chart postures improved recently and that’s inviting the technical-based speculators to the long side of the futures markets. It’s been and likely will continue to be a quieter trading week on this unofficial last week of summer for Americans, ahead of the three-day Labor Day holiday weekend. October gold futures were last up $3.20 at $1,813.00. September Comex silver was last up $0.12 at $24.08 an ounce.

Global stock markets were mostly firmer overnight. The U.S. stock indexes are pointed to slightly higher openings when the New York day session begins, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures poking to record highs overnight.

In overnight news, the U.S. said it has fully pulled its troops and planes out of Afghanistan, ending a 20-year war with the Taliban, who declared victory over the world’s mightiest military.