Inflation: Is The Glass Half Empty Or Half Full?

The inflation rate rose 0.2% in April; is the glass half empty or half full?

Today the BEA (Bureau of Economic Analysis) released the PCE (personal consumption expenditures) for April 2022. This report is the preferred inflation gauge used by the Federal Reserve as a key component to shape their forward guidance of monetary policy. Continue reading "Inflation: Is The Glass Half Empty Or Half Full?"

Gold Update: Window Of Opportunity Still Open

Last month I spotted a “Repeated Bullish pattern” of another Cup & Handle model.

The majority of readers confirmed that they see it either. Most of you supported my outlook of an extended Handle with another zigzag to the downside. This was the right guess. Let me show it to you in an updated chart below.

Weekly Gold Chart

Indeed, the gold futures price followed the black zigzag on the chart to the downside. Hence, the outlook played out as planned. However, the depth of the drop was excessive as it hit below the expected valley of 50% Fibonacci retracement level and even 61.8%. The collapse stopped only close to four-fifths of the Cup. The classic approach would invalidate the pattern in this case. Continue reading "Gold Update: Window Of Opportunity Still Open"

Gold Posts Solid Gains For The Week

Gold prices closed higher on the day and the week resulting in solid gains. As of 5:50 PM, ET gold futures basis most active June contract is currently up $3.90 or 0.21%, fixed at $1845.10. Considering that gold futures traded to a low this week of $1785 and closed near the highest value this week of $1848.60, it had a good week.

Gold pricing had been under pressure for the fourth consecutive week before this week's trading activity resulting in defined technical chart damage with it breaking below its 200-day moving average last Thursday, May 12. This week's low occurred on Monday, May 16, when prices hit a low of $1785 and traded to a high of $1825 before closing above its opening price on Monday and above Friday's closing price at $1813.60. On Tuesday, gold traded to a higher high and a higher low than Monday, even though gold closed fractionally lower than its opening price. On Wednesday, gold traded to a lower low and a lower high than Tuesday's price action, but that all changed on Thursday. Continue reading "Gold Posts Solid Gains For The Week"

Gold Suffers Its Fourth Straight Week Of Declines

Editor’s Note: I will be speaking at an upcoming conference The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference in British Columbia on May 17 and 18. For more information please click the link above.

Gold opened at $1977 on Monday, April 18, and this would mark the beginning of four consecutive weekly declines. As of 5:10 PM EDT gold futures basis, the most active June 2022 Comex contract is fixed at $1810.30 after factoring in today’s decline of $14.30 or 0.78%. Today’s decline in gold occurred without the benefit of dollar strength. The dollar index declined by 0.36% and is currently fixed at 104.515

Kitco Gold Index (KGX)

The image above is a screen-print of the KGX (Kitco Gold Index) which was taken at 4:37 PM EDT. At that time spot gold was fixed at $1810.80 after factoring in a decline of $10.70. Market participants were active sellers resulting in a $14.30 price decline. Dollar weakness provided mild tailwinds adding $3.60 (+0.20%) in value. Continue reading "Gold Suffers Its Fourth Straight Week Of Declines"

Gold Resilient Amid Market Sentiment Reversal

This week the Federal Reserve addressed revisions to its current monetary policy in its attempt to reduce the current levels of inflation to an acceptable target. The statement released after the FOMC meeting, coupled with Chairman Powell’s press conference, resulted in extreme volatility in many financial sectors.

Market participants witnessed one of the strongest knee-jerk reactions and complete market sentiment reversal over 24 hours. The initial market sentiment was extremely short-lived as it was followed by a complete turnaround from the initial reaction the following trading day.

The release of the Federal Reserve’s FOMC statement, coupled with Chairman Powell’s press conference, resulted in a major rally in U.S. equities. The S&P 500 gained almost 3%, the largest daily gain in two years. Equities overall experienced the best Fed-day return since 2011. It significantly impacted gold, moving the precious yellow metal higher. Concurrently, the dollar had a significant decline losing almost 1%, and yields on U.S. Treasuries were also significantly declining. Continue reading "Gold Resilient Amid Market Sentiment Reversal"