Dollar rises, gold and silver threaten support

The US Dollar Index rallied to test resistance at 83.50. Breakout would target the 2010 high of 88.00. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating above the zero line indicates a strong up-trend.

US Dollar Index

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

Spot Gold is consolidating above primary support at $1530 per ounce. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero signals a primary down-trend. Downward breakout would offer a target of $1300*……. unless the Fed introduces QE3.

Spot Gold

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

Spot Silver is similarly testing primary support at $26 per ounce. Breakout would offer a target of $16*….. again with the QE3 caveat.

Spot Silver

* Target calculation: 26 – ( 36 – 26 ) = 16

Commodities continue in a primary down-trend, warning of a global economic down-turn. Respect of resistance at 295 by the CRB Commodities Index would warn of another primary decline, with a target of 235*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating below zero indicates a strong down-trend. Penetration of the descending trendline is unlikely, but would suggest that a bottom is forming.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 265 – ( 295 – 265 ) = 235

Brent Crude is also testing resistance — and the descending trendline — at $100 per barrel. Respect would indicate another decline, with a target of $75 per barrel*. There are two wild cards that could impact on price: tensions with Iran and QE3.

Brent Crude and Nymex WTI Light Crude

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

The gold-oil ratio (measured against Brent crude) is close to its mid-point of 15.0, offering little in the way of overbought/oversold readings for gold over the last  few years (after a false overbought reading — above 20 — in 2009).

Gold/Brent Crude Ratio

Dollar rallies while Gold & Silver fall

The Dollar Index is testing primary resistance at 81.50 on the weekly chart. Respect of zero by the latest 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough suggests continuation of the primary up-trend. Follow-through above 82 would signal an advance to 86*.

US Dollar Index

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

Spot Gold broke support at $1550/ounce on the daily chart. Expect retracement to test the new resistance level at $1600 but a sharp fall below zero by 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of support at $1500 would confirm, offering a long-term target of $1200*.

Spot Gold

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

Spot Silver is testing primary support at $26/ounce. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating below zero already indicates a primary down-trend. Breach of support would offer a target of $16/ounce*.

Spot Silver

* Target calculation: 26 – ( 36 – 26 ) = 16

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*.

Spot Silver Compared to Gold

* Target calculation: 26 – ( 36 – 26 ) = 16