Quartz reports that Goldman Sachs recommend investors sell gold short:
Now Goldman Sachs commodities analysts suggest the selloff in the yellow metal could be about to gain momentum. In a research note Wednesday they write not even the stress over Cyprus could generate much of a rally in gold prices. And they come to the conclusion that “long” enthusiasm over gold prices is ebbing fast……..
A short trade with a stop at $1600 and target of $1450 (according to GS), for a breakout below $1550, seems a reasonable risk-reward ratio. But what is the probability of a downward breakout and should long-term investors consider selling?
Gold had several consolidations or corrections over the last decade, but each resolved in a continuation of the primary up-trend, with quantitative easing fueling the rise. Latest FOMC minutes indicate that bond purchases are likely to be scaled back in the second half of the year. Does this mean the end of QE and gold’s bull run?
Hussman Funds’ latest market comment includes a chart that shows the economy rallies whenever the Fed introduces QE, but falls when QE ends. The US economy may come off life support but is still going to need a lengthy convalescence. And possibly further episodes of QE to prevent a relapse.
Declining purchasing power of the dollar is also unlikely to reverse. The Dollar Index ($DXY) is in an up-trend, but we need to remember that it reflects values relative to major trading partners, with the Euro accounting for 57.6% of the total weighting, the Yen second highest at 13.6%, and Pound Sterling third at 11.9%. This is a race to the bottom. All four central banks are debasing their currencies. The Dollar only looks strong because it is sinking slower than the others. Purchasing power of the dollar is definitely not rising in real terms.
So my long-term view of gold remains bullish, but that does not rule out a 30% correction like 2008 below. Retail investors are definitely sellers, with substantial outflows from gold ETFs, but central banks according to Agustino Fontevecchia at Forbes are buying:
As prices have dropped and investors lost faith, central banks have been on the opposite side of the trade, gobbling up bullion at a rate of 27-metric tons a month, according to UBS’ gold expert Edel Tully. Russia and South Korea are among the biggest buyers….
This could still go either way. On the monthly chart we can see gold testing support at $1550. The third dip below zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum gives strong warning of a down-trend. Breakout below $1500 would offer a target of $1200*, but respect of support — indicated by recovery above the February 26 high at $1620 — would signal a rally to $1800.
* Target calculation: 1500 – ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 1200
Dollar Index
The Dollar Index is testing resistance at 84.00. Breakout is likely and would signal an advance to 89.00/90.00. Rising momentum supports this view.
Crude Oil
The ascending triangle and rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum both signal a primary advance for Nymex Crude, supported by an improving economic outlook. Brent Crude breaking support at $106/barrel, reflects the opposite view in Europe and we could see the crude prices in North America and Europe converge — if not cross — for the first time in more than two years.
Commodities
Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index continues in a primary down-trend.
China — the major driver of global commodity prices — is significantly lagging the recovery in the US.
Hi colin though not trading gold right now i agree the bullish trends remains intact. On August 31st last year gold broke a large bull flag after missing the lower flag (channel line)formation on the daily (spot gold) and normally i like to see a retracement back to the top of the trend line it broke however when the train left the station it ran straight to 1800, and didn’t retest, well not yet anyway. We just pipped the back of the said line on the 21st Feb though i look for a close on the line not a tail to resolve the pattern(9 am Aussie time close on my chart). If it in fact does close around 1520 in the next days it could offer a trade to the long side though as with any pattern trade they are prone to failure however another bull flag on the weekly should underpin the trade to about 1465, no worse than GS stop suggestion I guess. They can tell us what they like, i smell a rat and there are always more skeletons to fall out of the closet to promote a fear trade in this era of reckless monitory policy. I wouldn’t wright gold off just yet….Regards Ronzo BTW i draw trendlines to the closing price not extremes if you are searching for this pattern.
Thanks Ronzo. It does seem like a scare campaign. Even the NY Times featured an article. A good contrarian buy signal?
Why is Gold diverging with the current Aussie advance, though they are supposedly directly correlated ? If Aussie breaks > 1.07, gold will have bottomed at current levels, and should be bought for the next bull run. If not, and Aussie continues with its swings, then perhaps $1450, becomes the level to wait for.
Not sure about the correlation. Aus Dollar price of gold (XAUAUDO_pm) recently broke long-term support at $1500.
Gold : It’s “supposed” now, after Friday night (NY) plunge, to be in “bear” territory. Well, it was coming, one can say, from the charts, at least. Can we all say that though?
The BOJ seems to have rattled markets with aggressive asset purchases. Gold is definitely in bear territory but I am still bullish in the long-term. Competing devaluations by major central banks will ensure this.