Gold unsettled by stronger dollar

Spot Gold is consolidating between $1740 and $1800, with the rising dollar halting its advance. Penetration of the rising trendline warns that momentum is slowing and breach of support at $1740 would signal another test of $1700.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1900 + ( 1900 – 1600 ) = 2200

The weekly chart shows gold continuing its long-term ascent in a narrow trend channel. Breakout below $1600 would warn of a reversal.

Gold-Oil Ratio

The gold-oil ratio has fluctuated in a far narrower range since mid-2009 and it may take some years before we see another overbought/oversold signal.

Commodities and crude

The CRB Commodities Index remains in a primary down-trend. Respect of the descending trendline, with reversal below 315, would warn of another decline. Breakout above the descending trendline is less likely, but would indicate that the down-trend is weakening. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum penetrated its descending trendline but remains below zero, suggesting that the down-trend has slowed but not reversed.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 295 – ( 325 – 295 ) = 265

Copper rallied to test its descending trendline at $8000/tonne. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum deep below zero indicates a strong primary down-trend. Breakout above $8000 would indicate that the down-trend is weakening, while respect of the descending trendline would warn of a decline to 6000*.

Copper Grade A

* Target calculation: 7000 – ( 8000 – 7000 ) = 6000

Brent Crude broke out above its trend channel, indicating that it is forming a base above $100/barrel. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum recovered above zero to confirm the breakout. Expect retracement to test primary support at $100, but respect is now likely and would suggest a primary up-trend.

Brent Crude Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 5600 – ( 6600 – 5600 ) = 5100

Nymex WTI crude is rising sharply, closing the divergence from Brent crude. News of the Seaway pipeline reversal that will relieve congestion at the Cushing, Oklahoma hub sent crude futures soaring. Expect a short retracement followed by an advance to $115.

Nymex WTI Crude

Conclusion: Commodities remain in a primary down-trend caused by the strengthening dollar. Brent crude is forming a bottom, but rising crude prices are likely to dash hopes of an early economic recovery. Falling commodity prices should cause sympathetic weakening of the Australian Dollar and Canadian Loonie.

Commodity down-trend

The strengthening dollar should see commodities weaken. Reversal below 315 would indicate respect of the descending trendline — and another test of primary support at 295. Breakout is unlikely, despite the rise of crude oil, but would indicate that the down-trend is weakening.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 295 – ( 325 – 295 ) = 265

Crude surge

Brent Crude broke through its upper trend channel despite the strengthening dollar (one would normally expect prices to fall). The down-trend is losing momentum and (Brent) crude is likely to form a base above  $100/barrel.

Brent Crude Afternoon Markers

Gold falters on dollar surge

Spot gold is testing short-term support at $1750/ounce as the greenback strengthens. Breach of the rising trendline would suggest that the advance is losing momentum — and breakout below $1700 would signal another test of primary support at $1600. Respect of $1700 is less likely, but would signal an advance to $1900.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1800 + ( 1800 – 1700 ) = 1900

Commodities and crude oil

CRB Commodities Index is testing the descending trendline at 320. Breakout would suggest that the down-trend has weakened and the index is forming a bottom; respect would indicate another test of primary support at 295. Breach of the long term rising trendline would warn of another test of 2009 lows at 200.

CRB Commodities Index

Brent crude is also testing its descending trendline, at $110/barrel. Respect would signal another test of primary support at $99, while breakout would suggest that the down-trend has ended. In the long-term, breach of the rising trendline would warn of a decline to around $70/barrel.

IPE Brent Afternoon Markers

Spot gold looks for support

Spot gold is testing support at $1700/ounce after its recent breakout above the descending trendline and resistance (at $1700). Respect of support would indicate a primary advance to $1900. In the long term, breakout above $1900 would offer a target of $2200, while failure of support at $1600 would warn of a primary down-trend.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1900 + ( 1900 – 1600 ) = 2200

Amex Gold Bugs Index is headed for another test of the upper border of its right-angled broadening wedge formation. The pattern is bearish and breakout below 500 would warn of a primary reversal for spot gold.

AMEX Gold Bugs Index

Dollar tanks

The Dollar Index failed to confirm the primary up-trend, breaking support at 76 with a sharp fall in response to news of a resolution to the euro-zone debt crisis. Expect a test of primary support at 73. Breach of the rising trendline on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would confirm.

US Dollar Index

Expect gold and commodities to rally as a result of the weakening dollar.

Dollar declines, gold and commodities rise

The Dollar Index retraced to test the new support level at 76.00. Respect would confirm the primary up-trend, while failure would signal trend weakness. A trough above zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the bull signal.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 80 + ( 80 – 76 ) = 84

Gold broke through $1700/ounce in response to dollar weakness. Expect retracement to test the new support level. Respect would signal a primary advance to 1800*. The long-term (primary) trend remains upward.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1700 + ( 1700 – 1600 ) = 1800

The Amex Gold Bugs Index is testing medium-term resistance at 560. Breakout would test the upper border of broadening wedge pattern — around 650 — and support a similar advance for the spot metal.

Amex Gold Bugs Index

Brent crude is also stronger, testing its upper trend channel at $110/barrel. Respect would indicate another test of the lower channel — and the ascending long-term trendline — while breakout would signal an advance to $120*.

IPE Brent Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 110 + ( 110 – 100 ) = 120

The broader CRB Commodities Index is also headed for its upper trend channel. The ascending primary trendline remains intact but 63-day Twiggs Momentum respect of the zero line (from below) warns of a strong down-trend.

CRB Commodities Index