Dollar surges despite falling Treasury yields

The Dollar Index continues its advance towards resistance at the 2013 highs of 84.50. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero strengthens the (bull) signal. Reversal below 81.50 is most unlikely.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.50 – ( 81.50 – 79.00 ) = 84.00

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes rallied but is unlikely to break resistance at 2.50 percent. Respect would signal a decline to 2.00 percent*. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum holding below zero reflects a primary down-trend.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

Why is the Dollar rising when yields are falling?

One major factor that drives this is foreign purchases of US Treasuries.

Federal Debt Held by Foreign and International Investors

Why invest $4 Trillion in Treasuries when the yields are so low? Simply because the primary objective of China and other major investors is to drive the Dollar higher — and drive their own currency lower — in order to maintain a trade advantage.

Gold Declines as the Dollar rises

A rising dollar, falling crude prices and low inflation all favor a down-trend for gold, while falling long-term interest rates are the only alleviating factor at present.

Gold broke support at $1280, indicating another test of primary support at $1200/ounce. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero suggests a primary down-trend. Failure of medium-term support at $1240 would strengthen the bear signal. Breach of primary support would confirm.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Gold Bugs Index, representing un-hedged gold stocks, has not yet followed. Breach of support at 235 would confirm another test of primary support at 205. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the signal.

Gold Bugs Index

Silver, on the other hand is already testing primary support at $18.50/$19.00 per ounce. Breach of support would strengthen the bear signal for gold, while respect would suggest further consolidation.

Spot Silver

Dollar surges, yields fall but gold hesitant

The Dollar Index continues its impressive advance. Expect resistance at the 2013 highs at 84.50. Reversal below 81.50 is most unlikely.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.50 – ( 81.50 – 79.00 ) = 84.00

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes is retracing to test its new resistance level at 2.40/2.50 percent. The primary trend is down, with 13-week Twiggs Momentum holding below zero. Respect of resistance is highly likely and would confirm a decline to 2.00 percent*.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

Gold

Gold continues in a narrow range, between $1280 and $1320/ounce, in the apex of the triangle. Both this and oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Momentum close to zero signal uncertainty. Expect further consolidation between $1250 and $1350 in the medium-term. Breakout from that band is likely to indicate future direction. Falling crude prices and low inflation favor a down-trend.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Dollar surges as crude falls

  • Dollar surges
  • Treasury yields rally, but the trend is down
  • Crude oil prices fall
  • Gold uncertainty continues

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The Dollar Index followed through above resistance at 81.50, signaling a long-term advance to test the 2013 highs at 84.50. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero strengthens the signal. Reversal below 81.50 is most unlikely, but would warn of another test of support at 80.00.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.50 – ( 81.50 – 79.00 ) = 84.00

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes recovered above support at 2.40 percent, but the primary trend is downward. Respect of the descending trendline is likely and reversal below 2.40 would confirm a decline to 2.00 percent*. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum holding below zero strengthens the bear signal. Recovery above the descending trendline is unlikely, but would suggest a rally to 2.65/2.70 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

There are two factors driving the fall in long-term interest rates. The first is aggressive purchases of US treasuries by China in order to maintain a weak yuan. The second is the abysmal state of the employment market when we look past the official unemployment figures. Employment levels for males in the 25 to 54 age group remain roughly 6% — and females 5% — below their previous high.

Employment levels

Gold

Gold is consolidating in a triangle pattern, between $1200 and $1400/ounce. Price action is now too close to the apex (“>”) of the triangle for breakouts to be reliable, but breach of support at $1280 would test $1240, while breakout above $1320 would test $1350. Oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Momentum close to zero continues to signal hesitancy. In the longer term, recovery above $1350 would indicate a primary up-trend, while breach of support at $1240/$1250 would signal a down-trend.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Declining crude prices may be contributing to lower inflation expectations and weaker gold demand (as an inflation hedge). Brent Crude breach of $99/barrel would confirm a primary down-trend as would Nymex WTI crude below $92/barrel.

Gold and Crude

Strong Dollar weakens gold

  • Treasury yields decline
  • Dollar strengthens
  • Crude oil weakens
  • Gold hesitates

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes is testing support at 2.40 percent. Breach would confirm a primary decline with a target of 2.00 percent*. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum holding below zero strengthens the bear signal. Recovery above 2.50 is unlikely, but would suggest a rally to 2.65/2.70 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

The Dollar Index broke resistance at 81.50, signaling a long-term advance to 84*. Expect retracement to test the new support level. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero also suggests a primary up-trend. Reversal below 81.00 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of support at 80.00.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.50 – ( 81.50 – 79.00 ) = 84.00

A rising dollar and falling treasury yields both suggest that inflation expectations are falling.

Gold

Gold found medium-term support at $1280/$1300, but oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Momentum around zero indicates hesitancy. Recovery above $1350 would indicate a primary up-trend, while breach of support at $1240/$1250 would signal a down-trend.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Declining crude prices may also be contributing to lower inflation expectations and weaker gold demand as an inflation hedge. Brent Crude breach of $104/barrel would signal a primary down-trend, reducing the possibility of a sustained rise in the gold price.

Gold and Crude

Gold finds support as Euro falls

  • Treasury yields warn of a decline
  • Euro trending lower
  • Dollar halts at resistance
  • Gold finds short-term support

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes retreated below 2.50 percent, warning of a decline to 2.00 percent*. Follow-through below 2.40 would confirm. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the signal. Reversal above 2.65 is unlikely, but indicate an advance to 3.00 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

The euro is in a primary down-trend, having broken primary support at $1.35. Target for the initial decline is $1.30*. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero confirms the down-trend. Recovery above $1.35 is unlikely, but would warn of a bear trap.

EURUSD

* Target calculation: 1.35 – ( 1.40 – 1.35 ) = 1.30

The Dollar Index has run into resistance at 81.50, evidenced by tall wicks (“shadows”) on the last two weekly candles. Weakness in Europe is likely to drive the Dollar higher, while lower treasury yields would retard the advance. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests a primary up-trend. Breakout above 81.50 would signal a primary advance to 84*. Reversal below 81.00 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 79.00.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.50 – ( 81.50 – 79.00 ) = 84.00

Gold

Gold found short-term support at $1280/$1300. Oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Momentum around zero continues to indicate hesitancy. Breach of support at $1240/$1250 would warn of a primary down-trend. Recovery above $1350 remains unlikely at present, but would indicate another test of $1400/$1420.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Gold weakens on Dollar strength

  • Treasury yields find support
  • Euro signals a primary down-trend
  • Dollar continues to strengthen
  • Gold weakens

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes recovered above 2.50 percent, suggesting that a bottom is forming. Follow-through above 2.65 would strengthen the signal. Reversal below 2.40, however, would confirm a decline to 2.0 percent*.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

The Euro broke primary support at $1.35, signaling a primary decline with a target of $1.30*. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero confirms the down-trend. Recovery above $1.35 is unlikely, but would warn of a bear trap.

EURUSD

* Target calculation: 1.35 – ( 1.40 – 1.35 ) = 1.30

The Dollar Index rallied on strong GDP figures, testing resistance at 81.50. Breakout is likely and would signal a primary advance with a target of 84*. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero indicates a primary up-trend. Reversal below 80.50 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 79.00.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.50 – ( 81.50 – 79.00 ) = 84.00

Gold

Gold is testing support at $1295/$1300. Failure of support would warn of a primary down-trend. Breach of $1240/$1250 would confirm. Recovery above $1350 is unlikely at present, but would indicate another test of $1400/$1420. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the bear signal, but oscillation close to the zero line presently signals hesitancy.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Gold retreats as Dollar strengthens

  • Treasury yields weaken further
  • The Dollar continues to strengthen
  • Inflation target remains at 2% p.a.
  • Gold retreats

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes broke support at 2.50 percent, indicating a test of 2.00 percent*. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Follow-through below 2.40 would confirm. Recovery above 2.65 is unlikely, but would indicate the correction is over, with a medium-term target of 2.80 and long-term of 3.00 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

The Dollar Index followed-through above 80.50 and is headed for another test of 81.00. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests a primary up-trend. Breakout above 81.00 would strengthen the signal; and 81.50 would confirm. Breach of 80.00 is unlikely at present, but would warn of another test of primary support at 79.00.

Dollar Index

Low interest rates and a stronger dollar suggest inflation expectations are falling, but this is not yet evident on the TIPS spread. The 5-year Breakeven rate (5-Year Treasury Yield minus 5-Year Inflation-Indexed Yield) remains at 2.0 percent.

5-Year Treasury Yield minus 5-Year Inflation Indexed (TIPS) Yield

Gold

Gold is nonetheless falling, in line with weaker inflation expectations. Breach of short-term support at $1295/$1300 would test $1240/$1250. And breach of $1240 would signal another primary decline, with an intermediate target of $1100*. Oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Momentum around zero, however, suggests hesitancy, with no strong trend. Recovery above $1350 is unlikely at present, but would indicate another test of $1400/$1420.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1250 – ( 1400 – 1250 ) = 1100

When we compare long-term crude prices (Brent Crude) to gold, it is evident that crude prices tend to lead and gold to follow. The main reason is the impact that higher crude prices have on inflation, increasing demand for gold as an inflation hedge. Crude prices currently remain high, but it remains to be seen whether gold will follow as usual.

Gold and Crude

Gold prices adjusted for inflation suggest the opposite. There are two enormous spikes on the chart, both flagging times of great financial uncertainty. The first is spiraling inflation of the early 1980s and the second is the all-in balance sheet expansion (also known as quantitative easing) by central banks after the global financial crisis. Gold prices remain elevated and are likely to fall further as central banks curtail expansion.

Gold and CPI

Gold retreats as Dollar strengthens

  • Treasury yields remain weak
  • The Dollar strengthens
  • Inflation looks weak despite rising TIPS spread
  • Gold retreats

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes continues to test support at 2.50 percent. Failure would indicate a decline to 2.00 percent; follow-through below 2.40 would confirm. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to warn of a primary down-trend. Recovery above 2.65 is less likely, but would suggest the correction is over, with a medium-term target of 2.80 and long-term of 3.00 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

The Dollar Index found short-term support at 80.00. Follow-through above 80.50 indicates another test of 81.00. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests a primary up-trend. Breakout above 81.00 would strengthen the signal; above 81.50 would confirm. Breach of 80.00 is unlikely at present, but would warn of another test of primary support at 79.00.

Dollar Index

Low interest rates and a stronger dollar suggest inflation expectations are falling, but this is not yet evident on the TIPS spread (10-Year Treasury Yields minus 10-Year Inflation-Indexed Yields).

10-Year Treasury Yields minus 10-Year Inflation Indexed (TIPS) Yields

Gold

Gold is nonetheless falling, in line with weaker inflation expectations. Follow-through below $1300 would test support at $1240. And breach of $1240 would threaten another primary decline, with a target of $1000*. Oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Momentum around zero, however, suggests hesitancy, with no strong trend. Recovery above $1350 is unlikely at present, but would indicate another test of $1400/$1420.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Gold strengthens on Dollar weakness

  • Treasury yields weaken
  • The Dollar continues to test long-term support
  • Gold is strengthening

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes is again testing support at 2.50 percent. Failure would indicate a decline to 2.00 percent. Follow-through below 2.40 would confirm. Market expectations favor low interest rates and 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to warn of a primary down-trend. Recovery above 2.65 is less likely, but would suggest the correction is over, offering a medium-term target of 2.80 and long-term of 3.00 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.50 – ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 2.00

The Dollar Index tests short-term support at 80.00. Respect of zero by 13-week Twiggs Momentum warns of continuation of the primary down-trend. Breach of 80.00 would indicate a test of primary support at 79.00. Recovery above 80.50 is unlikely at present, but would suggest an advance to 81.50.

Dollar Index

Gold

Low interest rates and higher inflation expectations favor a stronger gold price and a weaker Dollar. Gold is consolidating in a narrow band below medium-term resistance at $1325/$1330, suggesting continuation of the rally. Breakout would signal a test of $1400. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero hints at a primary up-trend; breakout above $1400 would confirm. Retreat below $1300 is unlikely, but would test support at $1240.

Spot Gold