Gold stocks hammered

China’s Yuan continues to fall.

CNY/USD

Causing the US Dollar to strengthen. Dollar Index follow-through above resistance at 95 suggests further gains unless China intervenes to support the Yuan. Long-term target for the advance is 103.

Dollar Index

Gold plunged through support at $1200/ounce. Expect a test of primary support at $1130 but the long-term target is the 2015 low of $1050/ounce.

Spot Gold in USD

A Trend Index peak below zero warns of a strong decline on the Australian Dollar.

Australian Dollar/USD

But Aussie weakness was not enough to shield local gold miners. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) broke support at 4900, offering a long-term target of 4100.

All Ordinaries Gold Index

Local gold stocks are getting hammered, as I feared.

No Silver lining for Gold stocks

A long-term chart shows Silver broke support at $16/ounce and is headed for a test of its 2015 low at $14.

Spot Silver in USD

Silver is more volatile but often indicates, ahead of Gold, the direction of the two precious metals. At present that suggests Gold is likely to test its 2015 low of $1050/ounce.

Spot Gold in USD

China’s Yuan continues to fall against the US Dollar.

CNY/USD

The Dollar Index followed through after breaking resistance at 95. Retracement to test the new support level is now unlikely unless China intervenes to support the Yuan. Focus shifts to the long-term target of 103.

Dollar Index

The Australian Dollar broke support at 73 US cents, the Trend Index peak below zero warning of a strong decline. This may cushion local gold miners, to some extent, from the falling US Dollar price but Gold is more volatile.

Australian Dollar/USD

The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) continues to test support at 4900. Breach is likely and would offer a long-term target of 4100.

All Ordinaries Gold Index

Not a good time to buy Gold stocks.

Dollar strength hurts Aussie gold stocks

China’s Yuan continues its steep descent against the US Dollar.

CNY/USD

The weakening Yuan strengthened demand for Dollars, with the Dollar Index breaking through strong resistance at 95. Expect retracement to test the new support level. Respect would confirm the long-term target at the 2016/2017 highs of 103.

Dollar Index

The strong Dollar weakened demand for Gold, with the spot price heading for $1200/ounce after breaching short-term support at $1220.

Spot Gold in USD

A long-term gold chart shows likely support levels at $1150 and $1050/ounce.

Spot Gold in USD - Quarterly

The Australian Dollar continues to range between 73.50 and 75.00 US cents, leaving local gold miners exposed to the falling Dollar price.

Australian Dollar/USD

The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) is testing support at 4900. Breach is likely and penetration of the rising trendline warns of a strong decline, with a LT target of 4100.

All Ordinaries Gold Index

A sharp fall in the Aussie Dollar would soften the blow. But hope isn’t a strategy.

Bears in the East, Bulls in the West

Market fears of a trade war appear to be easing but investors in China and South Korea remain cautious.

The Shanghai Composite Index is retracing to test resistance at the former primary support level at 3000.

Shanghai Composite Index

Dow Jones – UBS Commodity Index shows a similar retracement in commodity prices.

DJ-UBS Commodity Index

While crude oil prices have found support at the LT rising trendline.

Nymex Light Crude

South Korea’s Seoul Composite Index is in a primary down-trend but retracement to test the former primary support level at 2350 is likely.

Seoul Composite Index

Japan is more isolated and the Nikkei 225 is testing resistance at 23,000. A rising Trend Index suggests that breakout is likely, which would test the January high at 24,000.

Nikkei 225 Index

India is stronger, with the Nifty breaking resistance at its January high of 11,100 to signal a primary advance with a target of 12,000. But first, expect retracement to test the new support level.

Nifty Index

Europe

Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 600 was boosted by news that the EU-US trade dispute is settled. A Trend Index trough above zero signals strong buying pressure. and another test of 400 is likely.

DJ Euro Stoxx 600 Index

A bullish saucer pattern on the Footsie suggest further gains. The Trend Index trough above zero indicates buying pressure. Breakout of the index above 7800 would signal another advance, with a target of 8200.

FTSE 100 Index

North America

The Nasdaq 100 retreated when Facebook (FB) and Twitter (TWTR) reported disappointing growth for the quarter. Bearish divergence on the Trend Index warns of selling pressure but this appears secondary and support at 7000 is likely to hold. Respect would confirm another advance.

Nasdaq 100

Friday’s retreat is also evident on the S&P 500 daily chart. Expect retracement to test new support at 2800. A strong GDP result should strengthen support.

S&P 500

Canada’s TSX 60 retraced to test the new support level at 970. Respect would signal a test of 1000 but breach is as likely, testing support at 940.

TSX 60 Index

Iron ore bounce lifts the ASX

Iron ore spot prices bounced off support at $63/tonne. Follow-through above $68 would suggest another rally to test resistance at $80 but that seems unlikely given the current threat of a trade war.

Iron Ore Spot Price

The ASX 300 Metals & Mining index found support at 3750. Breakout above 4000 would signal another advance but reversal below 3750 and a correction to test primary support at 3400 are more likely if iron ore retreats.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

The ASX 300 Banks index continues to consolidate in a bullish narrow band above its new support level at 8000. Follow-through above 8100 would suggest another advance, with a target of 8700. The index is still in a primary down-trend but it is evident that a bottom is forming. A higher low on the next correction, followed by a new high, would signal the start of a primary up-trend.

ASX 300 Banks Index

The banking sector faces the prospect of higher funding costs, falling credit growth and rising default risk and I remain wary.

The ASX 200 is again testing resistance at 6300. Breakout would signal a primary advance with a target of the October 2007 high at 6750.

ASX 200

Technical signals suggest a primary advance while economic indicators warn of rising headwinds and a potential bear market. I remain cautious, with more than 30% cash in the Australian Growth portfolio.

Falling Yuan strengthens the Dollar but weakens Gold

China failed to intervene in the past few weeks, allowing the Yuan to fall to offset the impact of tariffs instead of selling foreign reserves to support the currency. Their actions risk further retaliation by the Trump administration and could spark a full-blown trade war.

CNY/USD

A weakening Yuan is likely to increase demand for US Dollars, both as investors in the Middle Kingdom seek to withdraw and as borrowers with USD-denominated loans seek to hedge or repay.

The Dollar Index continues to test strong resistance at 95. Breakout is likely and would offer a target of 2016/2017 highs at 103.

Dollar Index

Spot Gold is in a primary down-trend, consolidating in a narrow band above short-term support at $1220/ounce. Breach of support is likely and would offer a short-term target of $1200.

Spot Gold in USD

The Australian Dollar is also in a primary down-trend, consolidating above 73.50 US cents. So far, the weaker currency has cushioned local gold miners from the impact of falling spot prices.

Australian Dollar/USD

The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) recovered above support at 4950. Follow-through above 5100 would indicate another test of 5400.

All Ordinaries Gold Index

But downside risk to Australian gold stocks is rising as the USD spot price falls. Gold is more volatile than the Aussie Dollar.

Gold breaches primary support

The Dollar price of gold breached support at $1240/ounce, signaling a primary down-trend. A long tail indicates active buyers and we can expect retracement to test the new resistance level at $1250.

Spot Gold in USD

The Dollar Index continues to test strong resistance at 95.

Dollar Index

But Chinese selling to support the Yuan has not materialized in sufficient magnitude to reverse Dollar strength. Dollar Index breakout above 95 is likely to spur selling of gold.

CNY/USD

The Australian Dollar has not weakened sufficiently to protect local gold miners, with the price of Gold in Australian Dollars falling sharply.

Gold Price in AUD

The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) broke support at 4950. Expect a test of 4600.

All Ordinaries Gold Index

Downside risk to Australian gold stocks is rising.

Gold breaks support

The Dollar price of gold has broken support at $1240/ounce, signaling a primary down-trend.

Spot Gold in USD

The Dollar Index continues to test resistance, consolidating in a narrow band below 95, a bullish sign. Chinese selling of the Dollar, to support the Yuan, has not materialized in sufficient magnitude to reverse Dollar strength. Breakout above 95 would spur selling of gold.

Dollar Index

The Australian Dollar has not weakened sufficiently to protect local gold miners. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) is heading for a test of support at 4900/4950. Given the circumstances, support is unlikely to hold. Expect a test of 4600.

All Ordinaries Gold Index

Time to sell Gold stocks

Stocks: Evolution Mining, Northern Star Resources, Regis Resources, St Barbara
Symbols: EVN, NST, RRL, SBM
Exchange: ASX
Date: July 19, 2018

The Dollar price of gold has broken support at $1240/ounce, signaling a primary down-trend.

Spot Gold in USD

The Dollar Index continues to test resistance, consolidating in a narrow band below 95, a bullish sign. Chinese selling of the Dollar, to support the Yuan, has not materialized in sufficient magnitude to reverse Dollar strength. Breakout above 95 would spur selling of gold.

Dollar Index

The Australian Dollar has not weakened sufficiently to protect local gold miners. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (XGD) is heading for a test of support at 4900/4950. Given the circumstances, support is unlikely to hold.

All Ordinaries Gold Index

Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure across all four gold stocks in the Australian Growth portfolio.

Evolution (EVN) is the weakest, having broken primary support at $3.10.

Evolution (EVN)

Northern Star (NST) broke medium-term support at $7.00 but is still in an up-trend. LT bearish divergence on Money Flow warns of selling pressure.

Northern Star (NST)

Regis Resources (RRL) respected medium-term support at $4.90 but Money Flow peaks below zero warn of strong selling pressure.

Regis Resources (RRL)

St Barbara (SBM) respected its rising trendline but Money Flow also warns of selling pressure.

St Barbara (SBM)

Conclusion

I don’t like the idea of holding gold stocks long-term when the USD price of gold is in a primary down-trend. Now is a good time to lock in profits from the last 6 months.

SELL (July 19, 2018)

Disclosure

Staff of The Patient Investor may directly or indirectly own shares in the above companies.

Trade tariff impact on China & Australia

The yuan is falling as threat of a tariff war rises.

Yuan

The Shanghai Composite Index is testing its 2016 low at 2700. Breach would warn of a decline to the 2014 low at 2000.

Shanghai Composite Index

Commodity prices are plunging in anticipation of falling demand from China.

DJ-UBS Commodity Index

Chinese monthly iron ore imports are down at 83.24 mt, compared to earlier peaks of 100 mt earlier in 2017. Iron ore spot price is testing primary support $63/tonne. A Trend Index peak below zero warns of selling pressure. Breach of support is likely and would warn of a decline to $58/tonne.

Iron Ore

A falling Aussie Dollar may cushion local resources stocks from some of the impact.

Australian Dollar

But ASX 300 Metals & Mining index continues to test medium-term support at 3800. Breach of support is likely and would warn of a correction to test the rising trendline.

ASX 300 Metals & Mining

Resources stocks remain in a primary up-trend but I am bearish on the medium-term outlook.