Rising Dollar suggests lower gold and commodities

The Dollar Index is testing medium-term support at 81.00/81.50. Respect would confirm a healthy primary up-trend. Reversal below the rising trendline is unlikely, but would indicate trend weakness. Another trough above zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum would strengthen the bull signal.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81 + ( 81 – 78 ) = 84

Gold displays strong buying support above $1500 with four long tails on the weekly chart. Recovery above $1700/ounce would suggest a new primary up-trend, but the rising dollar warns of weakness. Reversal below $1600 would strengthen the bear signal from 63-day Twiggs Momentum declining below zero.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1550 – ( 1800 – 1550 ) = 1300

Brent crude is consolidating after breaking support at $100/barrel. Respect of the new resistance level would warn of another decline, while reversal would test $110.

IPE Brent Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 100 – ( 125 – 100 ) = 75

The Nymex WTI Light Crude is similarly consolidating below $85/barrel. Respect of the new resistance level would indicate a decline to $75/76 per barrel.

Nymex WTI Light Crude

The broader CRB Commodities Index found short-term support at 265 as the dollar weakened, but is likely to follow through to long-term support at 250 as the greenback strengthens. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating below zero warns of a strong down-trend.

CRB Commodities Index

Dollar, gold, crude oil and commodities

The Dollar Index is retracing to test support at 81.50. Respect would confirm the primary up-trend, offering a long-term target of the 2010 high at 89. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating above zero indicates a healthy up-trend.

Dollar Index

Spot Gold is rallying to test resistance around $1650/ounce — at the descending trendline on the monthly chart. Breakout from the long-term trend channel suggests that a top has formed in response to the stronger dollar. Reversal below $1600 would indicate another test of primary support at $1500, while upward breakout would test $1800. A second dip of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the warning of a primary down-trend.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1550 – ( 1800 – 1550 ) = 1300

CRB Commodities Index is consolidating above support at its target of 265. Expect a rally to test resistance at 295, but failure of support would test the 2010 low at 250. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating below zero indicates a healthy down-trend. Commodities are falling (and the dollar rising) in anticipation of a global economic down-turn. Expect stocks (as indicated by the S&P 500 index) to follow commodities lower.

CRB Commodities Index

Nymex WTI Light Crude is headed for support at its 2011 low of 76, though we may see medium-term retracement to test resistance. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero signals a primary down-trend.

Nymex WTI Light Crude

Stronger dollar, weaker commodities: gold, copper and crude

The US Dollar is in a primary up-trend, the Dollar Index having broken resistance between 81 and 82. Retracement is likely to test the new support level; respect of 81 would confirm a healthy up-trend. Respect of the zero line by 63-day Twiggs Money Flow would likewise strengthen the signal.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 78 ) = 86

Spot gold is also testing a new support level — this time on the daily chart — after breaking resistance at $1600/ounce. Penetration of the declining trendline suggests that the down-trend is weakening, but 63-day Twiggs Momentum remains firmly below zero. Follow-through above $1640 would strengthen the bull signal — as would recovery of Momentum above zero — but failure of $1600 would re-test $1540.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1550 – ( 1800 – 1550 ) = 1300

Other commodities have reacted negatively to the stronger dollar, suggesting that gold will continue its downward path. Copper is in a clear down-trend, headed for a test of the 2011 low at 6800.

Copper Grade A

Brent crude broke its mid-2011 low at $100/barrel, offering a long-term target of $75*.

ICE Brent Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 100 – ( 125 – 100 ) = 75

Nymex WTI Light Crude is similarly headed for a test of long-term support at $75/barrel.

Nymex WTI Light Crude

CRB Commodities Index is similarly headed for a test of support at 250. The peak below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns of a strong primary down-trend. First, expect retracement to test resistance at 295; respect would confirm the down-trend.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 290 – ( 330 – 290 ) = 250

Gold rallies

Spot gold rallied late Friday, breaking the first line of resistance at $1600/ounce. Penetration of the declining trendline suggests that the down-trend is weakening, but 63-day Twiggs Momentum remains firmly below zero. Retracement that respects new support at $1600 would strengthen the bull signal, however, as would recovery of Momentum above zero.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1500 – ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 1200

Spot gold tests $1530

The Dollar Index followed through after last week’s breakout above resistance at 81.50/82.00, confirming the fresh advance signaled by a 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero. Target for the advance is 86.00*.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 78 ) = 86

On the daily chart, spot gold tests medium-term support at $1530/ounce. Long tails indicate buying support but the rising dollar continues to apply downward pressure. Breach of support and follow-through below $1500 would signal a long-term decline to $1200/ounce*. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum (below zero) already indicates a primary down-trend. Recovery above $1600 is less likely but would indicate that the down-trend is weakening.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1500 – ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 1200

Gold suffers from strong dollar

The US Dollar Index broke resistance at 81.80, signaling the start of a primary advance to 86.00*. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero indicates a strong up-trend. Expect retracement to test the new support level at 81.50/81.80. Respect would confirm the bull signal.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 78 ) = 86

Spot Gold is testing the band of support between $1500 and $1550/ounce. Wednesday’s long tail is evidence of buying support, but declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum (below zero) warns of a primary down-trend. Another rally that respects resistance at $1600 would strengthen the bear signal. Breakout below $1500 would confirm, offering a target of $1200*. Recovery above $1600, while unlikely, would suggest another test of $1800.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1500 – ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 1200

Dollar and gold test key support levels

The Dollar Index continues to struggle with resistance at 80. Reversal below 78 would signal the end of the primary up-trend and a re-test of the 2011 low. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the warning, while respect would indicate another primary advance.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 78 ) = 86

Spot Gold failed to respond to the listless dollar, testing the long-term trendline and support at $1600/ounce. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating around the zero line indicates indecision. Recovery above $1700 would indicate a fresh primary advance, while failure of $1600 would warn of a primary down-trend — with a long-term target of $1200*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1800 + ( 1800 – 1600 ) = 2000; 1500 – ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 1200

Gold, Silver and the Dollar

The Dollar Index met strong resistance at 80.00 and is likely to re-test support at 78.00. Upward breakout would signal continuation of the primary up-trend, while failure of support would warn of reversal to a down-trend. In the longer term, breakout above 82.00 would offer a target of 86.00*. Respect of the zero line by 63-day Twiggs Momentum would reinforce the primary up-trend, while breach would indicate a primary down-trend.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 78 ) = 86

Gold continues to test the long-term trendline at $1600/ounce. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating around the zero line highlights uncertainty. Failure of support at $1600 would warn that the decade-long up-trend is weakening, while breach of primary support at $1500 would confirm. Recovery above $1700, however, would indicate another test of $1800, suggesting the start of a new up-trend. Breakout above $1800 would confirm, offering a target of $2000/ounce*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1800 + ( 1800 – 1600 ) = 2000; 1500 – (1800 – 1500 ) = 1200

The Gold Bugs Index, representing un-hedged gold stocks, is already in a primary down-trend, suggesting that spot prices are likely to follow. Peaks below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum also indicate a strong down-trend.

Gold Bugs Index

Spot silver is also in a primary down-trend, having encountered strong resistance at $36/ounce. A medium-term descending triangle warns of further weakness. Failure of primary support at $26 would indicate a decline to $20*.

Silver

* Target calculation: 27.50 – (35 – 27.50 ) = 20

Gold rallies as dollar weakens

Spot gold is headed for a test of resistance at $1800 after breaching the descending trendline on the weekly chart, indicating that a bottom is forming. Breakout above $1800 would complete a double bottom reversal, with a target of $2100*. Respect of $1800 remains as likely, however, and would indicate another test of primary support at $1500.

Index

* Target calculation: 1800 + ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 2100

The Dollar Index is weakening in anticipation of QE3 ahead of the November 2012 elections. The primary trend remains upward, though breach of the rising trendline, and/or reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero, would warn that a top is forming.

Index

* Target calculation: 80 + ( 80 – 75 ) = 85

Gold & Commodities: Copper breakout as dollar weakens

The US Dollar Index has retraced to test medium-term support at 79.50. Respect would confirm a strong primary up-trend, while failure would suggest trend weakness. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum above zero still indicates a primary up-trend, but breach of the rising trendline warns that the up-trend is slowing. A weakening dollar is likely to cause stronger commodity prices.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 80 + ( 80 – 75 ) = 85

The weekly chart shows spot gold testing its descending trendline. Respect would indicate another test of primary support at $1500/ounce, while breakout would suggest that a bottom is forming. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would complete an iceberg pattern, warning of a primary down-trend. The bull-trend of the last few years was driven by quantitative easing (QE1 and QE2) from the Fed. We are unlikely to see another bull-trend without QE3.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1600 – ( 1800 – 1600 ) = 1400

Copper broke through resistance at $8000/tonne, completing a higher trough and signaling a primary up-trend. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the signal. The primary up-trend in this bellwether commodity suggests an economic recovery is under way.

Copper A Grade

* Target calculation: 8000 + ( 8000 – 7200 ) = 8800

The broader CRB Commodities Index, however, lags behind. Breach of the descending trendline indicates a base is forming, but only recovery above 325 would signal a primary up-trend. Cross-over of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero would strengthen the bull signal.

CRB Commodities Index


Brent crude is also forming a base, after breaching its descending trendline. Breakout above 115 would signal the start of a primary up-trend.

Brent Crude Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 115 + ( 115 – 105 ) = 125