8/2/2024
Gold and silver collapse after early safe-haven gains
OUTSIDE MARKET DEVELOPMENTS: Iran is reportedly preparing for a direct attack on Israel that could happen as soon as Friday evening. The Jerusalem Post reports that Israelis are bracing for a 1000-rocket, multi-proxy attack.
If Israel does indeed come under attack, there are growing concerns that the U.S. won't be able to restrain the inevitable Israeli response. This raises the risk of an all-out war in the Middle East.
According to The New York Times, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a bomb smuggled into the Tehran guest house in June. It had been widely reported that an Israeli airstrike killed Haniyeh.
U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose a lean 114k in July, below expectations of +181k, versus a downward revised +179k in June (was +206k). The jobless rate increased to a 33-month high of 4.3%, above expectations of 4.1%, versus 4.1% in June. Hourly earnings came in at +0.2%, on expectations of +0.3%. The average workweek declined to 34.2 hours.
There had been whispers of a better-than-expected payrolls print based on some encouraging labor market data earlier in the week. However, this report was a real disappointment and markets reacted immediately. Treasury yields slid, the dollar fell to 4-month lows, stocks tumbled, and gold neared its all-time high.
Prospects for a 50 bps Fed rate cut in September have surged to 62.5%, from 22% yesterday. Fed funds futures now show an 85.4% probability that the Fed funds rate will be lower by 100 bps or more after the December FOMC meeting.
U.S. factory orders slid 3.3% in June, below expectations of -3.0%, versus -0.5% in May. Transportation orders plunged 20.6%. Inventories were unchanged, after a scant 0.1% rise in May.
With growth risks mounting in the U.S., it's clear that the Fed is behind the curve on easing, just days after their most recent opportunity to cut rates. Hopes that the Fed would be able to orchestrate a soft landing have been dashed. I have been steadfastly less than optimistic that the Fed would be able to make that happen.
GOLD
OVERNIGHT CHANGE THROUGH 6:00 AM CDT: +$17.85 (+0.73%)
5-Day Change: +$71.47 (+2.99%)
YTD Range: $1,986.16 - $2,481.63
52-Week Range: $1,812.39 - $2,481.63
Weighted Alpha: +29.24
Gold came within striking distance of its all-time high at $2,481.63 on expectations of an Iranian attack on Israel. The prospects of a wider war in the Middle East have sparked risk aversion, providing a safe-haven bid in the yellow metal.
However, the record high survived the initial challenge and strong selling emerged mid-morning, driving gold lower on the day. This may be associated with deleveraging as risk-off selling on Wall Street intensifies, but it's difficult at this early stage to diagnose selling of this nature.
Kitco News ascribes the plunge to "heavy profit taking" and liquidation by weak longs. They may well be right, but it seems like more than that to me.
A lower daily close seems all but assured at this point. The yellow metal still appears poised to close higher on the week, which would be the first higher weekly close in three. However, with the market cascading lower, a drop below $2,400 would put Monday's open at $2,389.10 in jeopardy.
Weak jobs data and a slump in factory orders have caused Fed easing expectations to surge. This comes mere days after the Fed announced no change to policy at the end of its July FOMC meeting. Yields are dropping and the dollar index has slumped to 4-month lows. Stocks are getting hammered.
At this point, I continue to believe the dominant trend is up and that losses within the $2,481.63/$2,354.58 range that emerged in the June/July period are corrective. Let's wait for the smoke to clear and hopefully, I'll be able to provide some clarity in Monday's report.
SILVER
OVERNIGHT CHANGE THROUGH 6:00 AM CDT: +$0.447 (+1.57%)
5-Day Change: +$0.982 (+3.52%)
YTD Range: $21.945 - $32.379
52-Week Range: $20.704 - $32.379
Weighted Alpha: +24.58
Silver was initially garnering some support from a strong gold market today, once again testing above $29. However, when gold collapsed from just in front of its record-high, silver plunged back into the range.
Signs of weakness in the U.S. labor market along with indications this week of weakness in the U.S. manufacturing sector suggest mounting growth risks. This adds to existing concerns about the slumping Chinese economy that have been weighing on silver – and more broadly commodities – for weeks.
Silver is trading just below the midpoint of this week's range ($27.425/$29.133) and appears set for a lower daily close. However, it still seems likely that the white metal will notch its first higher weekly close in four.
Nonetheless, the dominant trend remains negative. High geopolitical risks should provide some underpinning for silver, but new cycle lows below $27.425 can not be ruled out.
On the upside, $29 has gained importance as a resistance level, as has the 100-day moving average on a close basis ($28.662 today). However, I still think trades back above $30 are needed to reinvigorate the bull camp.
Peter A. Grant
Vice President, Senior Metals Strategist
Zaner Metals LLC
Tornado Precious Metals Solutions by Zaner
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