Gold and the Dollar: The Putin factor

Spot gold is normally a reliable indicator of inflation expectations, but rising tensions over Ukraine and Crimea are likely to increase demand for gold as a safe haven. The yellow metal broke through resistance at $1350/ounce but is retracing to test the new support level. Respect of the rising trendline would confirm an advance to $1420. Crossover of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero (and earlier bullish divergence) signals a primary up-trend. Breakout above $1420 still appears some way off, but would offer a target of $1600/ounce*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1400 + ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1600

Treasury yields are easing, with the yield on ten-year Treasury Notes again testing support at 2.60 percent. Consolidation between 2.60 and 2.80 percent would be a bearish formation. Breakout above 2.80 would indicate an advance to 3.50 percent*; confirmed if there is follow-through above 3.00 percent. But bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum continues to warn of weakness and breach of primary support at 2.50 percent would signal a primary down-trend.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 3.00 + ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 3.50

The Dollar Index is falling, in line with softer Treasury yields. Breach of support at 79.00 would confirm a primary down-trend. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero also suggests weakness.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 79.0 – ( 81.5 – 79.0 ) = 76.5

Dollar falls: Outflow to safe haven?

Rising gold prices would normally signal increased inflation expectations and higher Treasury yields, but the present situation is distorted by tensions in Ukraine and increased demand for gold as a safe haven. The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes found support at 2.60 percent and is now testing medium-term resistance at 2.80 percent. Breakout would indicate an advance to 3.50 percent*; confirmed if there is follow-through above 3.00 percent. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum continues to warn of weakness and reversal below 2.60 remains as likely, testing primary support at 2.50 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 3.00 + ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 3.50

Rising Treasury yields and a weakening dollar may reflect international outflows from the Dollar in search of a safe haven. The Dollar Index is testing primary support at 79.50/79.60. Breach would signal a primary down-trend; confirmed if support at 79.00 is broken. The 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero suggests further weakness.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 79.5 – ( 81.5 – 79.5 ) = 77.5

Gold signals up-trend

Spot gold encountered resistance at $1350/ounce. Retracement that respects $1300 and the rising trendline would suggest an advance to $1400. Crossover of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero indicates a primary up-trend, especially following a bullish divergence on the weekly chart. Breakout above $1400 would confirm the signal, but still seems a long way off.

Spot Gold

The Gold Bugs Index is similarly testing resistance at 250. Breakout would signal an advance to 280. Again, bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum and crossover above zero indicate a primary up-trend. Reversal below 210 is unlikely, but would warn of continuation of the down-trend.

Gold Bugs Index

Gold rallies as stocks hesitate

Spot gold continued its rally, as stocks hesitate, and is likely to reach $1400/ounce before encountering strong resistance. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum strengthens the signal and recovery above zero would indicate a primary up-trend. Breakout above $1400 would confirm the signal, but seems a long way off.

Spot Gold

Gold rally

Spot gold is likely to rally to $1400/ounce before encountering strong resistance, from patient sellers. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum strengthens the signal. Momentum breakout above zero would suggest a primary up-trend, but breach of $1400 seems a long way off. Retracement that respects new support at $1250 would strengthen the rally.

Spot Gold

Gold follows through

The Gold Bugs Index followed through above 225 after breaking its descending trendline, suggesting that a bottom is forming. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum strengthens the signal. Reversal below 210 is unlikely, but would re-test primary support at 190.

Gold Bugs Index

Spot gold similarly followed-through above 1280, suggesting a bottom. Again, bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum strengthens the signal. Another retracement to find support is likely before there is a serious attempt at the September 2013 high of 1430, which would complete a large double bottom. Reversal below 1240 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 1180.

Spot Gold

Silver is likely to follow gold. Breakout above $20.50 would suggest another test of $25.00/ounce.

Spot Silver

Gold and silver bottom?

The Gold Bugs Index broke its descending trendline on the weekly chart and shows a bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum. Both suggest reversal to a primary up-trend, but first we are likely to see a re-test of support at 190. Respect of 190 followed by recovery above the recent high at 225 would strengthen the reversal signal.

Gold Bugs Index

Spot gold displays a similar penetration of the descending trendline and bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum, suggesting that a bottom is forming. Follow-through above 1280 would strengthen the signal. Reversal below 1240, however, would warn of another test of primary support at 1180. Breach of 1180 is unlikely, but would offer a target of 1000*.

Spot Gold

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

The silver chart, consolidating above primary support at $18/ounce, is mimicking gold. Recovery above $20.50 would also suggest that a bottom is forming.

Spot Silver

Gold: Bullish divergence

The Gold Bugs Index, representing un-hedged gold stocks, is often a leading indicator of spot prices. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum and breach of the descending trendline suggest that a bottom is forming. Only recovery above 280 would signal a primary reversal at present, but another retracement that respects support at 190 would change that.

Gold Bugs Index

Spot gold broke resistance at $1250/ounce and we should expect retracement to test the new support level. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum and breach of the descending trendline suggest that a bottom is forming. We may face an extended consolidation if falling interest rates boost gold while a stronger dollar exerts downward pressure. Failure of $1200 is now unlikely, but would warn of a decline to 1000*.

Spot Gold

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

Gold Bugs bullish

The Gold Bugs Index, representing un-hedged gold stocks, is often a leading indicator of spot prices. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests that a bottom is forming and is strengthened by breach of the descending trendline. Only recovery above 280 would signal reversal to a primary up-trend, but retracement that respects support at 190 would be a bullish indication.

Gold Bugs Index

Dollar Index

Rising interest rates and a stronger dollar, however, are likely to exert downward pressure on gold.

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes respected resistance at 3.00 percent. Breach of support at 2.75 and the rising trendline would test primary support at 2.50, but failure of this level is unlikely. Breakout above 3.00 is more likely and would offer a target of 3.50 percent*.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 3.00 + ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 3.50

The Dollar Index is again testing resistance at 81.50 after a bullish higher trough and breach of the descending trendline. Breakout would signal a primary advance to 83.00*, while recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the signal. Respect of resistance is less likely, but reversal below 80 would warn of further weakness.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.5 + ( 81.5 – 80 ) = 83

Spot Gold

Spot gold respected long-term support at $1200/ounce and is testing resistance at $1260/ounce as well as the descending trendline. Respect would signal another test of $1200, while breakout above $1260 would suggest that a bottom is forming. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the signal. Failure of $1200, however, would warn of a decline to 1000*.

Spot Gold

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

Gold hesitates in downward trend

The Gold Bugs Index, often a leading indicator of spot prices, is retracing to test the new resistance level at 210. Respect would confirm a decline to the 2008 low at 150. Recovery above 280 — and 13-week Twiggs Momentum crossover to above zero — would signal reversal to a primary up-trend, but that is unlikely at present.

Gold Bugs Index

Spot gold respected long-term support at $1200/ounce and follow-through above 1250 would suggest a bottom is forming. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would indicate a primary up-trend. Failure of $1200 is more likely, however, and would warn of a decline to 1000*.

Spot Gold

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

Dollar Index

Higher interest rates and a stronger dollar would increase downward pressure on gold.

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes encountered strong resistance at 3.00 percent. Retracement is headed for a test of support at 2.75. Breach of that level would test primary support at 2.50, but reversal below 2.50 is unlikely. Breakout above 3.00 is more likely and would offer a target of 3.50 percent*.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 3.00 + ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 3.50

The Dollar Index has twice respected resistance at 81.50 and we can expect another test of medium-term support at 79.80, but penetration of the declining trendline indicates downward momentum is fading. Respect of 79.80 would suggest another test of 81.50. Breakout above 81.50 would signal a primary advance, with recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero strengthening the signal.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.5 + ( 81.5 – 79 ) = 84