The precious complex continues to search for direction but the looming U.S. government shutdown

The precious complex continues to search for direction but the looming U.S. government shutdown and a debt ceiling that is getting a little too close for comfort appear to be cushioning any significant downside for gold at the moment. Platinum remains in a holding pattern just a day ahead of a planned AMCU strike at Amplats tomorrow. Any hint of a long-term supply disruption could push the white metal off the sidelines but for now it’s a wait-and-see atmosphere. On the domestic economic front, it appears the computer glitches surrounding weekly jobless claims have finally been fixed and the numbers are painting a rosy picture. Claims fell by 5,000 last week and now stand at 305,000 according to the Labor Department. U.S. pending home sales fell by 1.6% in August according to a report just released by the National Association of Realtors. The recent rise in long-term interest rates appear to be the culprit. However, pending sales are still up 5.8% from the same time last year. Have a great day!