Even though the overnight declines in gold and silver are modest, the rally in the dollar index is also small leaving currency-related selling in gold and silver somewhat limited early on.
While the decline in gold yesterday was not severe, the market did make a lower low and was pressured by a significant jump in US interest rates.
Fortunately for the bull camp, offsetting the jump in rates was off-balance US dollar action...[MORE]
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Aug 4 (Reuters) - Gold on Friday was on track for its biggest weekly decline in six as data projecting continued strength in the U.S. labour market firmed bets for U.S. interest rates remaining elevated and boosted Treasury yields and the dollar.
Spot gold was down 0.1% at $1,932.09 per ounce by 1046 GMT and U.S. gold futures were trading 0.1% lower at $1,967.20...[LINK]
With the dollar posting a higher high overnight the lower low in the gold and silver markets was to be expected.
Yesterday gold ETF holdings declined for the eighth straight session with a rather substantial reduction of 176,980 ounces bringing the year-to-date change in holdings to -2.8%. Silver ETF holdings saw a third straight day of outflows with year-to-date holdings now down 2.6%.
In retrospect, the failure to see gold and silver benefit from the Fitch downgrade of US credit highlights a prevailing bearish sentiment in the precious metal markets...[MORE]
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Aug 3 (Reuters) - Gold steadied on Thursday after data showing a deterioration in euro zone business activity triggered some safe-haven inflows, but bullion held near three-week lows on a stronger dollar and higher bond yields.
Spot gold was nearly flat at $1,934.29 per ounce by 1204 GMT, having hit its lowest since July 11. U.S. gold futures fell 0.3% to $1,969.80...[LINK]
While the dollar did not post a higher high for the move in the overnight action it remains a headwind for the gold bull camp.
Given the lack of a recovery in gold and silver following the downgrade of US credit by the rating agency Fitch the market is not sensitive to flight to quality issues.
In a second negative story, the World Gold Council indicated that Indian gold demand in the 2nd quarter declined by 7% from last year and suggested the slumping demand was the result of persistent record-high Rupee gold prices which reduced affordability and turned off consumer interest...[MORE]
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August 2 (Reuters) - Gold prices gained on Wednesday, helped by some safe-haven bids after Fitch downgraded the United States’ top credit rating, but an uptick in the dollar capped bullion’s gains.
Spot gold was up 0.5% to $1,952.79 per ounce at 1133 GMT, while U.S. gold futures rose 0.6% to $1,989.90...[LINK]
August 1 (Reuters) - Gold retreated on Tuesday as the dollar firmed and hopes of a soft landing for the U.S. economy dented safe-haven demand for bullion.
Spot gold eased 0.5% to $1,954.49 per ounce by 1136 GMT, while U.S. gold futures dropped 0.9% to $1,953.70...[LINK]
Gold is consolidative just below the midpoint of the May-June range as the market assesses the implications of last week’s Fed rate hike and better-than-expected economic data. The yellow metal ends July with a gain of 2.4%, breaking a 2-month losing streak.
Spot Gold Daily Chart through 7/31/2023
Last week the Fed hiked rates by 25 bps, and it was widely accepted it would be the last one for some time. However, on Thursday Q2 advance GDP came in at 2.4%, above expectations of 1.9%. In addition, durable goods orders surged 4.7% in June, well above market expectations of 1.8%.
These robust data are evidence that the U.S. economy continues to hum along at a respectable pace, despite the marked rise in interest rates over the past 16 months. More hawkish members of the Fed could now conceivably argue there is room for another rate hike. Fed funds futures are currently showing a 20% probability for a 25-bps hike in September.
While the Fed’s favored measure of inflation cooled to 4.1% in June, versus 4.6% in May, there are lingering worries in the market that a second wave of inflation could be in the offing. The national average for a gallon of regular gas jumped 13¢ last week reaching an 8-month high.
I’m often asked why gold didn’t fare better during this inflationary period. The answer lies in the Fed’s aggressive response in raising the Fed funds rate by 525 bps in just over a 1-year period. During that time, gold only corrected 22%, from $2070.63 (just shy of the all-time high) to $1614.92.
Most of those corrective losses have already been retraced, so I would argue that gold held up remarkably well in the face of the most aggressive tightening campaigns in recent history.
The long-term trend remains bullish with the market trading less than $110 off the all-time high. Setbacks into the range are likely to be viewed as buying opportunities.
Silver
Silver closed down more than 1% last week, weighed by persistent concerns that the health of the Chinese economy, and an uptick in the probability of another Fed rate hike in September.
Spot Silver Daily Chart through 7/31/2023
A firmer tone emerged over the past two sessions on the heels of strong U.S. and Japanese data. While the Chinese economy continues to show signs of weakness, the government announced supports for light industry on Friday and then measures to boost consumer spending on Monday.
Such stimulus offers support for both precious and industrial metals. If the Chinese economy continues to struggle, additional (and larger) stimulus would be likely, providing underpinning for the metals.
I like that the 20-day SMA successfully contained the downside last week. Renewed tests above $25 would bode well for a retest of the high from July 20 at $25.27. Penetration of the latter would clear the way for a challenge of the highs for the year at $26.09/14.
PGMs
Platinum fell 2.8% last week, notching a second consecutive lower weekly close. A fresh 2-week low was set on Monday before the market snapped back to close nearly 2% higher on the day.
Spot Platinum Daily Chart through 7/31/2023
The outside day with a higher close bodes well for upside follow-through on Tuesday. Strong economic data from the U.S. and Japan, along with Chinese stimulus are supportive factors.
The longer-term supply and demand dynamics remain broadly supportive. Dips into the range are likely to be viewed as buying opportunities.
Palladium has been corrective to consolidative over the past several weeks. While a short-term bottom may be in place at $1185.18, the trend remains bearish.
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