Dollar tests support while gold hints at new base

The US Dollar Index retraced to test support at 79.50/80.00. Respect would confirm the primary up-trend, signaling an advance to 85.00*.

Dollar Index

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

Spot Gold is testing resistance at $1700 and the descending trendline. Breakout would indicate that the down-trend has ended and the metal is forming a base.

Spot Gold


Commodities also appear to be forming  a base, with the CRB Commodities Index testing resistance at 315 after piercing the descending trendline. Recovery above 325 would complete a double-bottom reversal. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above the zero line would also be a bullish sign.

CRB Commodities Index

Spot gold finds support

Spot gold found support at $1500/ounce. Failure of this level would confirm a primary down-trend. Breach of the descending trendline would indicate that a base is forming, while recovery above $1800 would indicate a fresh primary advance to $2300*. We are unlikely to witness another bull-trend, however, unless the Fed introduces QE3.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1900 + ( 1900 – 1500 ) = 2300

Dollar breakout causes gold tremors

The Dollar Index broke through resistance at 80.00, signaling a primary advance to 85.00. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum indicates a strong up-trend.

Dollar Index

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

The stronger dollar caused spot gold to weaken, testing the band of support between $1550 and $1600/ounce.

Spot Gold

Gold is also testing the lower trend channel on the weekly chart. Cross of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a trend reversal. Failure of support at $1550 would confirm a primary down-trend.

Spot Gold Weekly

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

CRB Commodities Index is similarly testing support at 292. Breakout would offer a target of 265*.

CRB Commodities Index

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

Brent Crude is testing medium-term support at $105/barrel. Failure would indicate a test of the lower trend channel.

ICE Brent Afternoon Markers

Some readers questioned why gold and stocks are falling simultaneously — one normally rises when the other falls. A possible explanation is that expectation of quantitative easing, both from the Fed and ECB, has been supporting both markets. As prospects of QE recede, inflation forecasts will be lowered and demand for inflation-hedge assets (stocks and commodities) will fade. We should see a corresponding rise in bond prices (and falling yields) as a result.

Safe haven demand for dollar and gold eases

The Dollar Index is testing support at 78.00. Narrow consolidation above the support level indicates weakness. Recovery above 79.00 would relieve this, while failure of support would warn of another test of primary support at 75.00.  Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum, well above zero, however, suggests continuation of the up-trend.

Dollar Index

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

Spot gold is also weak as safe haven demand for both the yellow metal and the dollar has eased. Reversal below $1670 would signal another test of primary support at $1600. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum suggests further weakness but the long-term outlook remains bullish with the indicator comfortably above the zero line.

Spot Gold

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

Increased tensions with Iran are supporting the price of Brent Crude above $105/barrel. Narrow oscillation of 63-day Twiggs Momentum around the zero line indicates uncertainty. Failure of support (and respect of the descending trendline) would indicate another primary decline with a target of $85*. Breach of primary support at $99 would confirm.

ICE Brent Crude Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 100 – ( 115 – 100 ) = 85

The CRB Commodities Index respected its descending trendline, suggesting a primary decline to $265*. Follow-through below short-term support at $305 would strengthen the signal, while breach of primary support at $295 would confirm. The Aussie Dollar and Canada’s Loonie both closely follow commodity prices and can be expected to follow the CRB index lower.

CRB Commodities Index

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

Spot gold

Spot gold rallied off support at $1670 as the dollar weakened. The primary trend remains upward and breakout above $1800 would signal a test of $1900*. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns that the trend may be weakening, but only a cross below zero would confirm.

Spot Gold

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

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.

Spot Gold Weekly Chart

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*.

Spot Gold Daily Chart

* 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.

NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index

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.

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

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 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