Gold, rising interest rates and the falling Yuan

Interest rates are rising. Upward breakout from an ascending triangle formation on 10-year Treasury yields indicates an up-trend.

10-year Treasury Yield

A rate hike from the Fed would increase pressure on the Chinese Yuan, leaving the PBOC with a dilemma. Either allow the Yuan to slide, which could panic investors and borrowers into a rout, or sell off more of its $3.2 trillion foreign exchange reserves to slow Dollar appreciation against the Yuan.

USDCNY

Long tails on USDCNY indicate buying at the 6.60 support level. Breakout above 6.70 would warn of another advance (decline for the Yuan).

Rising interest rates increase downward pressure on gold but a falling Yuan would boost demand as a store of value. Spot Gold is above the rising trendline on a weekly chart but expect a test of support at $1300/ounce. Momentum holding above zero continues to indicate a healthy primary up-trend. Respect of support at $1300 would confirm. Breach of support remains unlikely but would signal trend weakness and a test of primary support at $1200.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1050 ) = 1550

Gold shudders on strong jobs numbers

Long-term interest rates surged on strong jobs numbers, well above the estimate of 180,000. From the WSJ:

Nonfarm payrolls rose by a seasonally adjusted 255,000 last month, the Labor Department said Friday. Revisions showed U.S. employers added 18,000 more jobs in May and June than previously estimated.

10-Year Treasury yields strengthened to 1.58 percent in response, from a record low of 1.33 percent four weeks ago. Expect a test of the descending trendline at 1.66 percent.

10-Year Treasury Yields

Gold fell to $1335/ounce on expectations of higher interest rates. Penetration of the rising trendline would suggest a correction to test primary support at $1200/ounce. Follow-through below $1300 would confirm.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1050 ) = 1550

At present I don’t see much threat to support between $1300 and $1310. Especially with safe-haven demand for gold enhanced by European uncertainty over Brexit, the dilemma of US November elections (a choice between two equally undesirable alternatives), and a declining Yuan encouraging capital flight from China.

USDCNY

Gold, the Yuan & Donald Trump

China’s Yuan continues its slide against the Dollar, with USDCNY testing resistance at 6.70. The current retracement is likely to respect support at 6.60, offering a target of 6.80*.

USDCNY

* Target calculation: 6.70 + ( 6.70 – 6.60 ) = 6.80

A depreciating Yuan is likely to drive demand for gold as well as hard currencies. Rising political uncertainty — in Europe, the Middle East and the US — is expected to add fuel to the fire. Strong polling by Donald Trump alone could drive gold to its long-term target of $1550/ounce*. Expect retracement to test the new support level at $1300/ounce. Respect is likely and would signal an advance to $1400/ounce.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1050 ) = 1550

Disclosure: Our managed portfolios are heavily overweight gold stocks.

Gold surges as the Pound and Yuan fall

The Yuan is sliding against the Dollar, with USDCNY breaking through resistance at 6.60. Expect further capital flight, both from residents and offshore investors. Borrowers will also seek to repay Dollar-denominated loans and replace them with facilities in the local currency, adding further pressure on the Yuan.

USDCNY

The PBOC has been encouraged by fading prospects of further rate rises from the Fed, with 10-year Treasury Yields falling to a new all-time low of 1.37 percent, compared to 1.40 percent in 2012.

10-Year Treasury Yields

….And the Pound falling to a 30-year low.

GBPUSD

Falling currencies and lower long-term interest rates are both good news for gold bugs, with spot gold surging to $1370/ounce. Expect retracement to test the new support level at $1300/ounce. Respect of the band of support at $1280/$1300 is likely and would signal another advance, with a target of $1400/ounce*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1200 ) = 1400

Gold rises as the Yuan and interest rates fall

China seems to have given up on its policy of supporting the Yuan against the Dollar, with USDCNY breaking through resistance at 6.60. Depleting foreign reserves to support the Dollar-peg was always going to be a tough call for the PBOC. But the alternative of increased capital flight and rising counter-measures from trading partners may exact an even higher price.

USDCNY

Perhaps the PBOC was encouraged by fading prospects of further rate rises from the Fed this year, after BREXIT. 10-Year Treasury Yields are headed for a test of support at the all-time low of 1.40 percent in 2012.

10-Year Treasury Yields

Gold broke resistance at $1300/ounce and is now retracing to test the new support level. BREXIT, a weakening Yuan, and lower interest rates are all likely to fuel demand for gold. Respect of the band of support at $1280/$1300 is likely and would signal another advance, with a target of $1400/ounce*.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1200 ) = 1400

Gold: Should I BREXIT?

Odds of a BREXIT are drifting at the bookmakers, with REMAIN a firm 1 to 4 favorite. Fears of a BREXIT have been driving demand for gold and a REMAIN vote is likely to spur a sell-off.

Gold

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1050 ) = 1550

Breakout above resistance at $1300/ounce turned into a bull trap with a sharp retreat to support at $1250/$1260. A REMAIN vote on June 23rd would test support at $1250 and possibly $1200. But the up-trend remains intact if support at $1200 holds.

Political uncertainty is unlikely to fade before the November US election. And economic uncertainty, fueled by Chinese instability, is likely to last a lot longer.

USDCNY

Capital outflows from China continue, with USDCNY running into resistance at 6.60. This is a sign that PBOC sale of foreign reserves has resumed, weakening the Dollar and boosting demand for Gold.

Gold’s up-trend is likely to continue. And breakout above $1300 would offer a long-term target of $1550/ounce*.

Disclosure: Our Australian managed portfolios are invested in gold stocks.

Gold surges on BREXIT fears

Long-term interest rates continue their decline, with 10-year Treasury yields breaking support at 1.65 percent. Breach signals a test of the all-time (July 2012) low of 1.40 percent.

10-year Treasury yields

Gold broke resistance at $1300/ounce on fears of a BREXIT vote on June 23rd and expectations that the Fed will need to soft-pedal on interest rates. Breakout offers a long-term target of $1550*.

Gold

* Target calculation: 1300 + ( 1300 – 1050 ) = 1550

Chinese buying of gold has been relegated to secondary status, at least for the next week. Sale of foreign reserves appear to have resumed, with the USDCNY running into resistance at 6.60. PBOC sale of foreign reserves weakens the Dollar, boosting demand for Gold.

USDCNY

Disclosure: Our Australian managed portfolios are invested in gold stocks.

Treasuries fall and Dollar strengthens on latest Fed minutes

Treasury yields rose and prices fell sharply after release of minutes from the Fed’s latest monetary policy meeting. The April minutes reveal that policy makers see a June interest-rate hike as appropriate if labor markets and economic growth continue to strengthen. The 10-year Treasury yield jumped 12 basis points, suggesting a rally to test resistance at 2.0 percent.

10-year Treasury yield

The Dollar strengthened against China’s Yuan, testing medium-term resistance at CNY 6.55. Breakout would force the PBOC to further deplete foreign reserves in support of the Yuan. The alternative of an uncontrolled descent would instill panic and encourage capital flight to gold and the USD.

USDCNY

Greenback finds support

The US Dollar Index rallied off long-term support at 93 but this looks more a pause in the primary down-trend, signaled by decline of 13-week Momentum below zero, than a reversal.

US Dollar Index

Explanation for the Dollar rally is evident on the chart of China’s foreign reserves: a pause in the sharp decline of the last 2 years. China has embarked on another massive stimulus program in an attempt to shock their economy out of its present slump.

China: Foreign Reserves

But this hair of the dog remedy is unlikely to solve their problems, merely postpone the inevitable reckoning. The Yuan is once again weakening against the Dollar and decline in China’s reserves, and the US Dollar as a consequence, is likely to continue.

USD: Chinese Yuan

Gold: PBOC makes its move

China’s PBOC made its move against the hedge funds on Monday, while many hedge fund managers were enjoying a long weekend in the Hamptons. With more than $3 Trillion of foreign reserves, this is a fight that the PBOC is likely to win, provided it stands firm. Hedge funds betting on a collapse of the Yuan can leverage their positions, but that makes them vulnerable to margin calls. Driving the Yuan below 6.50 to the Dollar may force some to cover their shorts, which would further strengthen the beleaguered currency.

USDCNY

China’s sell-off of foreign reserves has caused the Dollar to fall, in the midst of a flight to safety. Retracement that respects resistance at 97.50/98.00 would indicate a decline to test primary support at 93.00. Decline of 13-week Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend.

Dollar Index

Flight to safety has spiked demand for Gold. Expect retracement to test support between $1150 and $1200/ounce. But respect of either level would confirm a trend reversal (after recovery above $1200 completes a higher trough).

Spot Gold