Commodities Archives - Page 17 of 17

June 12, 2013

Gold and Dollar fall

Gold retreated below support at $1400, indicating the end of the bear rally. Expect a test of primary support at $1320/$1340. Yesterday’s long tail is evidence of short-term buying pressure, so breach of primary support is not a certainty. Respect would suggest another test of $1400.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1350 – ( 1500 – 1350 ) = 1200

Dollar Index

The Dollar Index is retreating after a false break above 84 on the monthly chart. Breach of support at 79 would complete a double top, signaling reversal to a down-trend. Fall of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the bear signal. Respect of the rising trendline remains as likely, however, and would signal a long-term advance to 89/90.

Dollar Index

Crude Oil

Crude is consolidating, with Brent likely to continue the down-trend after breaking support at $100/barrel. Respect of resistance at $106 would strengthen the signal. Nymex WTI, however, is headed for resistance at $98. Breakout would signal an advance, but reversal below $90 is as likely and would test support at $85/barrel. The spread between the two is likely to narrow as the European economy under-performs the US.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodities

A weakening Shanghai Composite Index is being followed lower by the Dow Jones/UBS Commodity Index. Breach of medium-term support at 130 would signal a test of primary support at 125/126. Commodities remain in a primary down-trend and are likely to stay there unless China resumes major infrastructure investment. Not good news for Australian resources stocks.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

May 30, 2013

Gold: Two elephants in a lifeboat

There are currently two players destabilizing global financial markets — like elephants in a lifeboat. One is the Bank of Japan, with markets uncertain as to how massive expansion of the monetary base will play out. The second is the Fed, where hints of a taper were enough to send the market into a panic, forcing the Fed to tone down its rhetoric. Emphasis now is on marginal rather than sizable decreases in QE.

Gold broke resistance at $1400, respecting primary support at $1320 and headed for another test of $1500. Uncertainty is high with the metal as likely to break resistance at $1500, signaling a primary up-trend, as to break primary support, which would offer a target of $1200*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1350 – ( 1500 – 1350 ) = 1200

Treasury Yields

Ten-year treasury yields broke resistance at 2.10%, signaling a primary up-trend. First, expect retracement to test the new support level at 2.00/2.05 percent. Breach of that level would warn of another test of primary support at 1.60%. I do not believe that rising yields indicate a resurgence of inflation expectations, but rather anticipation of the Fed taper of quantitative easing. No one wants to be left holding bonds when yields start rising.

Dollar Index

Crude Oil

Brent Crude is headed for another test of resistance at $106/barrel. Respect would indicate a down-swing to $92*, while failure would signal reversal to an up-trend. Nymex WTI respected resistance at $98 and is expected to re-test resistance at $85/barrel. A classic pair trade, the spread between the two is likely to narrow as the European economy under-performs.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodities

Commodity prices continue to fall, with the Dow Jones/UBS Commodity Index headed for primary support at 125/126. But signs of a base forming on the Shanghai Composite Index are likely to lift commodity prices. A Shanghai breakout above 2500 or penetration of the declining trendline would indicate a test of 150 for $DUBS.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

May 16, 2013

Gold and commodities fall while Dollar and bond yields rise

Gold broke the rising trendline and support at $1440/$1450, indicating another test of primary support at $1320. Target of $1200* for the decline would be confirmed by a breach of primary support.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1350 – ( 1500 – 1350 ) = 1200

Treasury Yields

Ten-year treasury yields broke resistance at 1.80% and are headed for a test of 2.00/2.05%. Breach of that level would signal a primary up-trend, but the thirty-year secular bear trend (in yields) remains downward and would only be reversed by a rise above 4.00%. Respect of resistance at 2.05% remains likely and would indicate another down-swing to test primary support at 1.60%. A weak inflation outlook, as indicated by falling gold prices, would decrease demand for stocks (as an inflation hedge) and increase demand for bonds.

Dollar Index

The Dollar is strengthening, with the Dollar Index testing resistance at 84. Breakout would signal a test of long-term resistance at 89/90*.

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 79 ) = 89

Crude Oil

Brent Crude respected resistance at $106/barrel, indicating a down-swing to $92*. Nymex WTI respected resistance at $98 and is likely to re-test resistance at $85/barrel. A classic pair trade, the spread between the two is likely to narrow as the European economy under-performs.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodities

Commodity prices continue to fall, with the Dow Jones/UBS Commodity Index headed for primary support at 125/126. The major driver of commodity prices is China and reversal of the current down-trend, on both indices, appears some way off despite a US recovery.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index