Gold prices shot higher despite US economic data boosting the case for a cutback in Fed QE efforts yesterday. The outlook going forward is clouded in uncertainty.
Talking Points
Gold, Silver Prices Rose Despite “Pro-Taper” Economic Data – Now What?
Crude Oil on the Verge of Completing a Bullish Continuation Chart Pattern
Commodity prices are treading water in the final hours of the week as markets look to the US economic calendar for direction cues. Yesterday’s news-flow produced somewhat puzzling results: July’s headline year-on-year CPI inflation rate rose in line with consensus forecasts while the weekly Jobless Claims data set surprised to the upside. On balance, these outcomes seemed to fall on the “pro-taper” side of the Fed policy expectations spectrum.
The S&P 500 responded as might have been expected, with the prospect of stimulus withdrawal sending the index to a five-week low. Performance in the commodities space was a somewhat counter-intuitive however. The typically sentiment-geared crude oil and copper prices nudged higher, breaking with the selloff on equity exchanges perhaps most surprisingly however, gold and silver prices shot aggressively higher. Needless to say that amounts to something of an oddity against for a pair of assets whose primary investment appeal is their anti-fiat properties.
This makes for a clouded outlook looking forward. The onus is once again on US data, with July’s Housing Starts and Building Permits figures as well as the preliminary estimate of Augusts’ University of Michigan Consumer Confidence gauge on tap. Improvements are expected all around, which ought to bolster the argument in favor of a tapering effort in September. What that means for commodity prices in the near term given the current environment is unclear however. For what it’s worth, US stock futures are pointing cautiously higher ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street, hinting at a risk-on mood to close to close out the trading week.
Capitalize on Shifts in Market Mood with the DailyFX Speculative Sentiment Index.
Crude Oil Technical Analysis (WTI)– Prices appear to be carving out a Flag chart pattern, indicative of downward correction preceding the resumption of the longer-term uptrend. A push above the 23.6% Fibonacci expansion at 106.04 has exposed the Flag top at the 107.00 figure, with a daily close above that targeting the 38.2% level at 108.40. Alternatively, a move back below 106.04 aims for the August 8 low at 102.21, followed by the Flag bottom at 101.88.
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0
Gold Technical Analysis (Spot)– Prices continued to push higher after breaking resistance at a falling trend line set from early May. Buyers now aim to challenge the 61.8% Fibonacci expansion at 1376.28, with a break above that targeting the 76.4% level at 1400.72. Near-term support is at 1356.22, the 50% Fib. A reversal back beneath that exposes the 38.2% expansion at 1336.76.
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0
Silver Technical Analysis (Spot)– Prices took out resistance at 22.25, the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement, exposing the 38.2% level at 24.75. The 22.25 mark has been recast as near-term support, with a move back beneath that eyeing the 14.6% retracement at 20.70.
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0
Copper Technical Analysis (COMEX E-Mini)–Prices are testing resistance at 3.387, the 50% Fibonacci retracement, with a break above that targeting the 61.8% level at 3.482. Near-term support is at 3.292, the 38.2% Fib, with a move back beneath that initially eyeing the top of a recently broken rising channel at 3.251.
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0
— Written by Ilya Spivak, Currency Strategist for Dailyfx.com
To contact Ilya, e-mail ispivak@dailyfx.com. Follow Ilya on Twitter at @IlyaSpivak
To be added to Ilya’s e-mail distribution list, please CLICK HERE
DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.Learn forex trading with a free practice account and trading charts from FXCM.
Source: Daily fx
