Commodities weak except for crude

  • Chinese stocks test long-term support
  • Commodities weaken
  • Crude oil remains high

China’s Shanghai Composite Index continues to test long-term support. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum holding below zero suggests continuation of the primary down-trend.

Shanghai Composite Index

Commodity prices are weakening, with Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index breaking support at 133 to warn of another test of long-term support at 122/124. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the signal.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

Crude oil remains strong. The chart below plots WTI Light Crude over the consumer price index. The ratio is well above the historical average and is acting as a significant hand-brake on the post-GFC recovery.

Nymex WTI Crude

Considering the holes made in GDP (the green line) by crude oil spikes over the last 40 years, you can understand why Janet Yellen is reluctant to raise interest rates despite falling unemployment.

Nymex WTI Crude

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

Enough to make Gazputin grin

  • Chinese stocks drift lower
  • Crude oil rising
  • Other commodities weak

China’s Shanghai Composite Index continues to drift lower on the long-term, monthly chart.

Shanghai Composite Index

Apart from crude oil, commodity prices have fared little better. But crude plays such a dominant role in most commodity indices that they appear more buoyant. Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index rallied to 140 before retracing for another test of primary support. Oscillation of 13-week Twiggs Momentum around zero, however, does not suggest a significant trend.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

Crude oil is doing a lot better, heading for another test of $110/barrel on the back of supply threats from geo-political tensions. The ascending triangle is very large, but breakout would suggest a long-term target of the 2008 high at $145*.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

* Target calculation: 110 + ( 110 – 75 ) = 145

…Enough to make even Gazputin grin.

Vladimir Putin

Read more at Bloomberg, June 2013: Gazprom’s Demise Could Topple Putin

Gold rallies as inflation expectations rise

Overview:

  • Treasury yields are recovering
  • Inflation expectations rise
  • The Dollar weakens
  • Gold rallies

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes found support at 2.50 percent. Recovery above 2.65 would suggest the correction is over, offering a medium-term target of 2.80 and long-term of 3.00 percent. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to indicate weakness. Reversal below 2.40 would signal a decline to 2.00 percent* — confirmed if yield follows through below 2.40 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

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

Long-term inflation expectations, indicated by 10-Year Treasury Yields minus 10-Year Inflation-Indexed (TIPS) Yields below, turned upward after 12-month CPI jumped to 1.8 percent in May, but are still range-bound between 2.0 and 2.50 percent.

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

The Dollar Index continues to head for primary support at 79.00 after retreating below 80.50. Respect of zero by 13-week Twiggs Momentum warns of continuation of the primary down-trend. Recovery above 80.50 is unlikely at present, but would suggest an advance to 81.50.

Dollar Index

Gold

Gold is testing medium-term resistance at $1325/$1330. 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 $1280 is unlikely, but would warn of the opposite; confirmed if support at $1240 is breached.

Spot Gold

Gold rallies as the Dollar weakens

Overview:

  • Treasury yields weaken
  • The Dollar weakens
  • Gold rallies

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes is headed for another test of primary support at 2.50 percent. Follow-through below 2.40 would would signal a decline to 2.00 percent*. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum continues below zero, indicating weakness. Recovery above the descending trendline is unlikely at present, but would suggest another attempt at 3.00 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

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

The Dollar Index retreated below resistance after a false break above 80.50. Recovery above 80.50 would suggest an advance to 81.50, but respect of zero by 13-week Twiggs Momentum warns of continuation of the primary down-trend.

Dollar Index

Gold

A weaker Dollar helped gold break its descending trendline, ending the correction. Expect a test of $1400. Whipsawing of 13-week Twiggs Momentum around the zero line, however, indicates indecision and reversal below zero would warn of further weakness. Retreat below $1280 would warn of a test of primary support at $1200.

Spot Gold

Gold bearish as dollar base strengthens

Overview:

  • Treasury yields recover
  • The Dollar establishes a base
  • Gold bearish

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes made a false break through primary support at 2.50 percent, before recovering to 2.60 percent*. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to suggest weakness. Recovery above 2.80 remains unlikely at present, while reversal below 2.50 would signal a decline to 2.00 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

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

The Dollar Index completed a double-bottom reversal, breaking through resistance at 80.50, but last week’s tall shadow (wick) warns of selling pressure. Reversal below 80.00 would indicate a test of primary support at 79.00, but 13-week Twiggs Momentum recovery above zero is bullish and follow-through above 81 would suggest a primary up-trend. Breakout above 81.50 would confirm.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.5 + ( 81.5 – 79.0 ) = 84.0

Gold

Low inflation and a strengthening Dollar reduce demand for precious metals. Gold found short-term support at $1240, but reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero is bearish. Expect a test of primary support at $1200. Recovery above $1300 is unlikely, but would warn of a bear trap and rally to $1400.

Spot Gold

Gold tumbles as Treasury yields fall

Overview:

  • Treasury yields fall
  • The Dollar strengthens slightly
  • Stocks are rising
  • Gold breaks support

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes broke primary support at 2.50 percent, warning of a decline to 2.00 percent*. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero confirms weakness. Recovery above 2.80 is most unlikely at present, but would indicate another advance.

10-Year Treasury Yields

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

The Dollar Index is testing resistance at 80.50. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero would increase the chances of a double-bottom reversal (to a primary up-trend), but respect of resistance remains as likely and would test primary support at 79.00. Another 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below the zero line would signal continuation of the primary down-trend.

Dollar Index

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

Stocks and Housing

Falling long-term interest rates are likely to boost the housing sector and the broader stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is heading for a test of the recent high at 16750. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow signals medium-term buying pressure. Retracement that respects support at 16500 would confirm an advance to 17000*.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 16.5 – ( 16.5 – 16 ) = 17

Gold and Silver

Gold faces conflicting forces: low inflation reduces demand for precious metals, but low interest rates and a weaker Dollar increase demand. At present low inflation seems to have the upper hand, driving gold through support at $1300/$1280 per ounce. Expect a test of primary support at $1200. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero reinforces the bear signal. Recovery above $1300 is most unlikely, but would warn of a bear trap and rally to $1400.

Spot Gold

Crude and commodities retrace

The Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index is again retracing to test support at 133/134, but is clearly in a primary up-trend (with breakout above 134 following earlier recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero). Target for the advance is 144*. Reversal below 133 is unlikely, but would warn of a bull trap.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 134 + ( 134 – 124 ) = 144

Crude oil, the most highly-traded commodity, is also retracing, with Nymex Light Crude headed for a test of primary support at $98/barrel*. Breach of support would signal a primary down-trend. Respect of support would indicate another test of $105. Brent crude, while declining slightly, would need to penetrate support at $104/barrel to signal a down-trend.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

* Target calculation: 105 + ( 105 – 98 ) = 112

Gold faces conflicting forces

  • Treasury yields are falling
  • The Dollar is weakening
  • Inflation expectations are falling
  • Gold and silver are testing support

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes closed below support at 2.60 percent, warning of another decline. Follow-through below 2.50 percent would signal a primary down-trend, with an immediate target of 2.00 percent*. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero also suggests weakness. Recovery above 2.80 is unlikely at present, but would indicate another advance.

10-Year Treasury Yields

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

The Dollar Index is heading for a test of primary support at 79.00. Peaks below the zero line on 13-week Twiggs Momentum signal a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support at 79.00 would confirm, offering a target of 76.50*. Recovery above 80.50 is unlikely, but would signal that the index has bottomed.

Dollar Index

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

Gold and Silver

Gold faces conflicting forces: low inflation reduces demand for precious metals, but low interest rates and a weaker Dollar increase demand.

Spot gold continues to test support at $1300/$1280 per ounce. Failure of support would indicate a test of primary support at $1200, but long tails and 13-week Twiggs Momentum recovery above zero indicate that another test of $1400 remains as likely.

Spot Gold

Silver is more bearish and failure of primary support at $19/ounce would offer a target of $16*. Respect of the zero line (from below) by 13-week Twiggs Momentum suggests continuation of the primary down-trend. A down-swing on silver would be likely to be followed by gold. Recovery above $22/ounce is less likely, but would signal a primary up-trend.

Spot Silver

* Target calculation: 19 – ( 22 – 19 ) = 16

Crude and commodities rising

Nymex Light Crude is headed for a test of resistance at $105/barrel*. Recovery of 13-week Momentum above zero indicates a primary up-trend. Breakout above $105 would confirm, offering a target of $112*. Brent crude, however, continues to range between $104 and $112/barrel.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

* Target calculation: 105 + ( 105 – 98 ) = 112

The Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index respected its new support level at 134, confirming a primary up-trend. The signal reinforces earlier recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero. Target for the advance is 143. Reversal below 134 is now unlikely, but would warn of a bull trap.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 134 + ( 134 – 125 ) = 143