7/30/2024

Gold and silver are modestly higher as markets await central bank decisions

OUTSIDE MARKET DEVELOPMENTS: The market's focus is on central bank interest rate decisions. The BoJ, Fed, and BoE will all announce policy this week.

The BoJ is expected to raise rates. The Fed is expected to hold steady. The BoE is a bit of a toss-up with a bias toward a rate cut.

Eurozone Q2 GDP came in slightly better than expected at +0.3% q/q. Markets seem to be embracing this beat and shrugging off the unexpected 0.1% contraction in German GDP.

Eurozone economic sentiment ticked down a scant 0.1 points to 95.8 in July. The market had been expecting a much more substantial erosion of sentiment

German CPI inflation edged up to a 2.6% annualized pace in July, versus 2.5% in June.

Crude oil futures fell to 2-month lows below $76/bbl. The slowing Chinese economy has led to reduced imports by the world's second-largest economy. This has overshadowed heightened Middle East tensions, which tend to underpin oil historically.

The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index rose 1% in May, reflecting a 6.8% annualized appreciation in U.S. home prices. The FHFA home price index was steady at +5.7% y/y in May, after a downward revision from +6.3% in April. Despite persistently high mortgage rates, home prices continue to rise on tight supply.

U.S. consumer confidence rose to 100.3 in July, above expectations of 99.6, versus a revised 97.8 in June (was 100.4). Improved expectations were the driving force, but the present situation index fell to a 39-month low of 133.6, and the 1-year ahead inflation index remained elevated at 5.4%.

JOLTS job openings fell 46k to 8,184k in June. There are 1.2 available jobs for each unemployed job seeker 

Anti-Maduro protests are growing in Venezuela amid accusations that the long-ruling socialist strongman stole Sunday's election. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claims the opposition received 73.2% of the vote, but the national electoral authority proclaimed Maduro the winner.


GOLD

OVERNIGHT CHANGE THROUGH 6:00 AM CDT: +$8.17 (+0.34%)
5-Day Change: -$22.42 (-0.93%)
YTD Range: $1,986.16 - $2,481.63
52-Week Range: $1,812.39 - $2,481.63
Weighted Alpha: +24.04

Gold remains consolidative just below the $2400 level as traders await this week's central bank policy decisions. The trade is also eagerly anticipating Friday's release of U.S. jobs data for July.

 

I continue to watch the 20-day moving average, which comes in at $2,397.76 today, bolstering chart/Fibonacci resistance at $2,400.70/$2,403.05. Penetration of the latter would clear the way for a test of the next Fib level at $2,418.06 initially. Beyond that, $2,430.89/$2,433.06 (24-Jul high and 61.8% retrace) would be the attraction.

On the downside, the overseas low at $2,378.09 provides an intervening barrier ahead of yesterday's low at $2.374.13. More important support is defined by the lows from late last week at $2.358.18/$2,354.48. The 50-day moving average provides reinforcement and is at $2.358.60 today.

The World Gold Council reports that demand for gold fell 6% y/y in Q2 to 929 tonnes (ex-OTC) as record-high prices sapped jewelry consumption. Inclusive of OTC investment, demand grew 4% to 1,258 tonnes the highest Q2 reading in the series.

Global gold jewelry consumption dropped 19% y/y to a 4-year low of 391 tonnes. Chinese jewelry demand was particularly weak, exacerbated by the slowing economy.

Central bank gold buying rose 6% y/y to 184 tonnes. Soft demand in the West led to a 5% y/y decline in retail bar and coin investment. Gold used in technology was +11% y/y, driven by the AI trend.

Overall, the demand picture looked pretty bright through Q2. Meanwhile, supply rose 4% to 1,258 tonnes. The fundamentals remain broadly supportive.


SILVER

OVERNIGHT CHANGE THROUGH 6:00 AM CDT: +$0.045 (+0.16%)
5-Day Change: -$1.387 (-4.74%)
YTD Range: $21.945 - $32.379
52-Week Range: $20.704 - $32.379
Weighted Alpha: +18.37

Silver is trading modestly higher after setting a new 11-week low at $27.425 yesterday. As of Monday, silver has closed lower in nine of the last twelve sessions. The total decline since the 11-year high in May stands at just over 15%.



Momentum on upticks continues to disappoint and there just doesn't seem to be much incentive to rally out of this area. A close above the 100-day moving average ($28.550 today) would offer some encouragement.

However, the white metal really needs to regain the $30-handle to return confidence to the longer-term uptrend. Such a move would constitute a more than 50% retracement of the entire decline and put silver back above the 20- and 50-day moving averages.

Yesterday's low at $27.425 reinforces the $27.404 Fibonacci support level (78.6% retrace of the rally from $26.049 to $32.379). A move below this area would leave the $26.049 low from 02-May vulnerable to a test.


Peter A. Grant
Vice President, Senior Metals Strategist
Zaner Metals LLC
Tornado Precious Metals Solutions by Zaner
312-549-9986 Direct/Text
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