Gold
Gold closed with a loss of 1.09% yesterday. It rose from $1,206/oz to $1,220/oz in Asian and early European trading this morning. Gold subsequently came under pressure due to profit taking and institutional selling driving prices through key technical levels. Gold is currently trading at $1,190/oz and in euro and GBP terms, at €965/oz and £827/oz respectively.
The bounce in the euro has led to further profit taking in gold. Gold has now fallen for 5 days in a row and significant technical damage has been done. However the big picture fundamentals remain positive for gold and this sell off is likely to again be the pause that refreshes . Gold had risen very sharply – in less than 2 months it rose by 15% (from $1,086 March 23 to a record high of $1,249 per ounce on May 14) and thus was ripe for a correction and consolidation. Support should be seen at these levels and at $1,070/oz. Below that the 50 day moving average is at $1,153/oz and support may be found at these levels.
Click on image to view full size
World stock markets have tumbled as investors digest Germany’s unilateral ban on short-selling but the euro has rallied from fresh four-year lows on talk of central bank intervention. Commodities are mixed with precious and base metals down, oil slightly higher and many of the food commodities higher today despite risk aversion. Along with gold and silver, the commodity currencies have come under pressure and the euro, yen, dollar and pound are stronger today despite the stock market sell off (see Cross Currency Table below).
Click on image to view full size
The Markit iTraxx Crossover index of credit-default swaps on 50 European companies, which typically rises as investor confidence deteriorates, jumped again today showing that concerns about the health of the financial sector are again rising and this should lead to further safe haven hedging with gold.
Silver
Silver has range traded from $18.58/oz to $18.76/oz this morning in Asia and Europe prior to sharp falls of 3.5%. Silver is currently trading at $18.10/oz, €14.67/oz and £12.57/oz. Smart money will use this latest sell off to again buy on the dip especially given that the gold to silver ration continues to be favourable to silver.
Platinum Group Metals
Platinum is trading at $1,600/oz and palladium is currently trading at $459/oz. Rhodium is at $2,775/oz. Rhodium is at $2,775/oz. The PGMs have come under a lot of pressure in recent days on concerns that a renewed global slowdown could crimp demand. Platinum and palladium dropped to seven-week lows on concern that Europe’s debt crisis will continue, potentially curbing demand for metals.
