Gold threatens four-year low

Gold & Silver

Silver broke long-term support at $18.50 per ounce, offering a target of $15.50/ounce*. First, expect retracement to respect the new resistance level. Gold is likely to follow Silver to a new four-year low.

Spot Silver

* Target calculation: 18.5 – ( 21.5 – 18.5 ) = 15.5

Gold respected the new resistance level at $1240/ounce and is now testing $1200. Follow-through below $1180 would offer a long-term target of $1000*, while respect would suggest another rally to $1240. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum, below zero, further strengthens the bear signal.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Gold Bugs Index (representing un-hedged gold stocks) is also testing long-term support. Breach of support at 200 would strengthen the bear signal for Gold.

Gold Bugs Index

Interest Rates and the Dollar

Rising Treasury yields and a stronger Dollar both add downward pressure to Gold. Higher interest rates increase the carrying cost of gold, while the Dollar competes with Gold both as a safe haven and as an appreciating asset (against other currencies).

The Dollar Index broke through resistance at the 2013 high of 84.75. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum, above zero, signals a primary up-trend. Expect retracement to test the new support level. Respect is likely and would offer a long-term target of 89*. Reversal below 84.50 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 79 ) = 89.00

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes respected resistance at 2.65 percent and is retracing to test support at 2.50. Follow-through above 2.70 would signal an advance to 3.00, but 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero continues to suggest a primary down-trend. Failure of support at 2.50 would indicate another test of primary support at 2.30.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.30 – ( 2.60 – 2.30 ) = 2.00

Gold and silver fall

Gold respected the new resistance level at $1240 after a brief retracement, confirming a primary down-trend. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the bear signal. Expect further support at $1200/ounce, breach would add further confirmation.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Silver is testing primary support at $18.50 per ounce. Breach of support would signal a down-trend and strengthen the bear signal for gold. Respect is unlikely, but would suggest further consolidation.

Spot Silver

Interest Rates and the Dollar

A rising Dollar and rising Treasury yields both put downward pressure on gold.

The Dollar Index is testing resistance at the 2013 high of 84.50. Rising 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero signals a primary up-trend. Reversal below 81.50 is most unlikely. Upward breakout would offer a long-term target of 89*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 84 + ( 84 – 79 ) = 89.00

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes broke resistance at 2.50 percent and is now consolidating at 2.60. Follow-through above 2.65 would signal an advance to 3.00. Respect would signal a decline to 2.00 percent*. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum recovery above zero would suggest a primary up-trend.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 2.65 + ( 2.65 – 2.30 ) = 3.00

Gold Declines as the Dollar rises

A rising dollar, falling crude prices and low inflation all favor a down-trend for gold, while falling long-term interest rates are the only alleviating factor at present.

Gold broke support at $1280, indicating another test of primary support at $1200/ounce. Declining 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero suggests a primary down-trend. Failure of medium-term support at $1240 would strengthen the bear signal. Breach of primary support would confirm.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

Gold Bugs Index, representing un-hedged gold stocks, has not yet followed. Breach of support at 235 would confirm another test of primary support at 205. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero would strengthen the signal.

Gold Bugs Index

Silver, on the other hand is already testing primary support at $18.50/$19.00 per ounce. Breach of support would strengthen the bear signal for gold, while respect would suggest further consolidation.

Spot Silver

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

Gold and inflation

Inflation expectations are falling, as suggested by a weaker gold price and treasury yields. The Dollar, however, is also weakening in response to low interest rates and should provide some support for precious metal prices.

Interest Rates and the Dollar

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes is falling, reflecting a dovish outlook on inflation, and testing the base of the recent consolidation at 2.60 percent. Breach of primary support at 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 warns of weakness. Recovery above 2.80 is less likely, but would suggest 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 suggest a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support at 79.00 would confirm, offering a target of 76.50*.

Dollar Index

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

Gold and Silver

Spot gold found support at $1280/ounce, but narrow candles for the last two weeks indicate an absence of buying pressure. Reversal below $1280 would test primary support at $1200. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would be a bullish sign, although breakout above $1400 remains unlikely.

Spot Gold

Silver is more bearish and failure of primary support at $19/ounce would signal continuation of the primary down-trend, offering a target of $16. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum, however, points to an up-trend and breakout above $22 would confirm. Behavior of silver is likely to be mimicked by gold (and vice versa). This is a tough one to call and the outcome may well be further consolidation.

Spot Silver

Gold follows through

The Gold Bugs Index followed through above 225 after breaking its descending trendline, suggesting that a bottom is forming. Bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum strengthens the signal. Reversal below 210 is unlikely, but would re-test primary support at 190.

Gold Bugs Index

Spot gold similarly followed-through above 1280, suggesting a bottom. Again, bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum strengthens the signal. Another retracement to find support is likely before there is a serious attempt at the September 2013 high of 1430, which would complete a large double bottom. Reversal below 1240 is unlikely, but would warn of another test of primary support at 1180.

Spot Gold

Silver is likely to follow gold. Breakout above $20.50 would suggest another test of $25.00/ounce.

Spot Silver

Gold and silver bottom?

The Gold Bugs Index broke its descending trendline on the weekly chart and shows a bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum. Both suggest reversal to a primary up-trend, but first we are likely to see a re-test of support at 190. Respect of 190 followed by recovery above the recent high at 225 would strengthen the reversal signal.

Gold Bugs Index

Spot gold displays a similar penetration of the descending trendline and bullish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Momentum, suggesting that a bottom is forming. Follow-through above 1280 would strengthen the signal. Reversal below 1240, however, would warn of another test of primary support at 1180. Breach of 1180 is unlikely, but would offer a target of 1000*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1200 – ( 1400 – 1200 ) = 1000

The silver chart, consolidating above primary support at $18/ounce, is mimicking gold. Recovery above $20.50 would also suggest that a bottom is forming.

Spot Silver

Gold: $1200 next?

Spot gold consolidating in a narrow band below support at $1250/ounce suggests a test of $1200. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero strengthens the signal. Breakout below the June low ($1200) would confirm a primary down-trend. Recovery above $1260 is unlikely, but would indicate a rally to $1350.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1250 – ( 1350 – 1250 ) = 1150

Silver broke through support at $20.50/ounce and is headed for a test of primary support at $18/ounce. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support would confirm.

Spot Silver

Often a leading indicator of spot prices, the Gold Bugs Index, representing un-hedged gold stocks, broke primary support at 210 to signal a primary down-trend. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would strengthen the signal.

Gold Bugs Index

Dollar Index

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes retreated below 2.75. Breakout would signal a fresh primary advance, with a target of 3.50 percent* (breakout above 3.00 percent would confirm). Reversal below the rising trendline is less likely, but would warn of trend weakness and another test of 2.50. Higher yields would help strengthen the dollar.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 3.00 + ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 3.50

The Dollar Index retraced to test the new support level at 80.50. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would warn of a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support at 79 would confirm. Breakout above 81.50 remains as likely, however, and would indicate an advance to 84*.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 81.5 + ( 81.5 – 79 ) = 84

Higher interest rates and a stronger dollar would increase downward pressure on gold.

Crude Oil

Nymex crude is undergoing a strong correction and is likely to test primary support at $85/$86 per barrel. Reversal of 13-Week Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Brent crude is rising despite an easing of tensions with Iran. The primary reason for the divergence is supply. Iain Armstrong, oil analyst at Brewin Dolphin, earlier in the year explained that Brent is effectively a global brand — affected by global issues of supply/demand — while Nymex is a “local” brand and benefits from plentiful shale oil in the US.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodity Prices

A resurgent Shanghai Composite Index is supporting commodity prices. Recovery of the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index above 126 would indicate a bear trap. A peak below zero on 13-week Twiggs Momentum, however, warns of a continuing down-trend. Respect of the resistance level, as indicated by follow-through below 122, would signal a decline to 114*.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 124 – ( 134 – 124 ) = 114

Gold tests key support as the dollar rises

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes rallied off support at 2.50 percent. Follow-through above 2.75 would indicate a fresh primary advance, with a target of 3.50 percent*. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum trough above zero would strengthen the signal. Respect of resistance is unlikely, but would warn of another test of 2.50.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 3.00 + ( 3.00 – 2.50 ) = 3.50

Dollar Index

Rising interest rates would strengthen the dollar. The Dollar Index respected support at 79, suggesting a rally to resistance at 84. Breach of the rising trendline, however, still warns of trend weakness, and 13-week Twiggs Momentum respect of the zero line (from below) would strengthen the warning.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 79 – ( 84 – 79 ) = 74

Gold

Rising interest rates and a stronger dollar would weaken gold. Spot gold is testing primary support at $1250/ounce. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero warns of a primary down-trend; breach of $1250 would strengthen the signal, while follow-through below the June low of $1200 would confirm. Respect of support at $1250 is less likely, but would indicate another test of $1350.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1250 – ( 1350 – 1250 ) = 1150

Silver is similarly testing support at $20.50/ounce. Breach would signal a decline to $18/ounce. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero would warn of a primary down-trend.

Spot Silver

Crude Oil

Nymex crude is undergoing a strong correction. 13-Week Twiggs Momentum crossing to below zero warns of reversal to a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support at $86/barrel would confirm. Until then, however, Nymex remains in a primary up-trend. Diverging Brent crude reflects both a strengthening European recovery and continued supply threats in the Middle East.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodity Prices

China is a primary driver of commodity prices and a weakening Shanghai Composite Index is driving commodity prices lower. Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index broke primary support at 124, offering a target of 114*. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero also suggests a continuing down-trend.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 124 – ( 134 – 124 ) = 114

Will dollar support stem gold & silver rise?

The Dollar Index found support at the 2012 low of 79 and is likely to test resistance at 80.50. Respect would confirm the primary down-trend, with a medium-term target of 77.50*. Breakout above 80.50 is unlikely, but would indicate strong support. The falling dollar is expected to boost gold and commodity prices.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 79 – ( 80.5 – 79 ) = 77.5

The yield on ten-year Treasury Notes found support at 2.50 percent and is expected to rally to test the descending trendline at 2.60 percent. Respect would signal a decline to 2.40 percent. Falling yields depress the dollar while lowering the opportunity cost of holding precious metals; both increasing upward pressure on gold. Respect of primary support at 2.40, however, would warn of an advance to 3.60 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

* Target calculation: 3.00 + ( 3.00 – 2.40 ) = 3.60

Gold

Spot gold is testing resistance at $1350/ounce. Breakout would indicate a primary advance to $1600*, while follow-through above $1425 would confirm. Respect of resistance is less likely, but would warn of another test of primary support at $1250.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1425 + ( 1425 – 1250 ) = 1600

Silver is similarly testing resistance at $22.50/ounce. Follow-through above $23 would indicate a primary advance — confirmed if resistance at $25 is broken — while a fall below $22 would re-test primary support.

Spot Silver

Crude Oil

Nymex crude below medium-term support at $98/barrel and 13-week Twiggs Momentum crossing to below zero both warn of reversal to a primary down-trend. But recovery above resistance at $103 would negate this. Divergence of Brent crude reflects both a strengthening European recovery and continued supply threats in the Middle East.

Brent Crude and Nymex Crude

Commodity Prices

China, a primary driver of commodity prices, continues to offer mixed signals. The Shanghai Composite Index recovered above medium-term support at 2150, suggesting another test of the upper trend channel. A failed swing, or downward breakout from the trend channel, would warn of correction to test primary support at $1950; a bearish sign for commodity prices.

Shanghai Composite Index

Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index continues to test medium-term support at 126. Breach would indicate a test of the primary level at 124. Recovery above 130 still seems more likely — and would signal a primary up-trend. A 13-week Twiggs Momentum peak below zero, however, would warn of a continuing down-trend.

Dow Jones UBS Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 130 + ( 130 – 125 ) = 135

Copper prices, bellwether for the global economy, tested 2011 lows at $6800/tonne over the last few months. Prices are now rallying to test resistance — and the descending trendline — at $7500/tonne. Breakout would signal a primary up-trend, as would recovery of 13-week Twiggs Momentum above zero; a bullish sign for the global economy.

Copper