BlackRock, the nation’s largest exchange-traded fund purveyor, said Wednesday that exchange-traded funds that invest in gold generated $4.8 billion in net new assets in November. That meant gold outperformed any other category of ETF, including fund that invest in bonds or stocks…….The rush to gold reflected increasing investor concern that gold is a safer place to put money than currencies or sovereign debt, given the European debt crisis and the high deficit and debt levels in the United States, according to Kevin Feldman, managing director for the iShares line of exchange-traded products from BlackRock.
Gold falters as the dollar strengthens
Spot Gold is headed for another test of the lower trend channel on the weekly chart. Failure of support at $1600 would warn of reversal to a primary down-trend; follow-through below the September low at $1550 would confirm. A fall of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would also warn of a reversal.
Penetration of medium-term support at $1700 on the daily chart of spot gold is not a strong signal, but follow-through below the recent low would indicate a test of primary support at $1600. Failure would offer a target of $1400*.
* Target calculation: 1600 – ( 1800 – 1600 ) = 1400
The NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index has been ranging between 500 and 600 for some time. Decline of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero suggests long-term weakness. Reversal below primary support at 500 would signal a primary down-trend — and a negative outlook for gold.
Silver reverts to mean
Spot silver has reverted to its “mean” — the spot gold price plotted against weekly silver. Reaction to the GFC was far more severe than gold in 2008 as industrial demand for silver slowed. Breakout above $20/ounce in 2010, however, ignited a steep ascent to $50. The inevitable blow-off followed and silver has now reverted to its 2007 ratio to the gold price. However, Newton’s Third Law of Motion — for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction — has an equivalent in financial markets: if price over-shoots in one direction, the reaction/correction is likely to overshoot in the opposite direction. Expect another test of primary support at $26. Failure of that level would offer a target of $16/ounce*.
* Target calculation: 26 – ( 36 – 26 ) = 16
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.
* 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.
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.
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.
* Target calculation: 1800 + ( 1800 – 1700 ) = 1900
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.
* 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.
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.
* 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.
* 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.
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*.
* 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.
Gold monthly chart
Spot gold remains in a strong primary up-trend on the monthly chart. Breakout below support at $1500 — or a 63-day Twiggs Momentum cross to below zero — would warn of a reversal, but respect of $1500 support would indicate another primary advance with a target of 2300*.
* Target calculation: 1900 + (1900 – 1500 ) = 2300
Gold heads for $1600
Spot gold is headed for a test of support at $1600/ounce; failure would offer a target of $1500*. In the long term, the primary trend remains up and breakout above $1700 would signal an advance to $1900.
* Target calculation: 1700 – ( 1900 – 1700 ) = 1500
Amex Gold Bugs index ($HUI) is headed for a test of primary support at 500 on the weekly chart. Failure would signal a primary down-trend with an initial target of 400* — and warn of a similar reversal for spot gold. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum slipped below zero to strengthen the bear signal.
* Target calculation: 500 – ( 600 – 500 ) = 400
CFTC Limits Commodity Speculation
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) voted 3 to 2 today to limit trading in oil, wheat, gold and other commodities after a boom in raw-materials speculation, record- high prices and years of debate and delay.
The rule limits the number of contracts a single firm can hold and it limits traders to 25 percent of deliverable supply in the month nearest to delivery.