After seeing modest early price gains, gold futures prices took a dip at mid-morning Tuesday when some stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data was released. U.S. home sales rose sharply in January, while the consumer confidence index rose in February. The latest Richmond Fed business survey also showed an upbeat reading. Bernanke’s prepared text for delivery to the U.S. Senate was also released at the same time the U.S. economic data came out. It took gold traders and investors a bit to digest Bernanke’s remarks, but the gold market did start to rally sharply in the aftermath of his comments. While Bernanke's remarks were pretty much what the market place expected, they were nonetheless dovish on U.S. monetary policy, and what the precious metals market bulls wanted to hear from the Fed chief. He said the benefits of a very accommodative monetary policy outweigh the potential risks of such, helping calm worries the U.S. central bank could end its quantitative easing of monetary policy sooner rather than later. In questioning from senators, Bernanke also hinted the Fed may not have to sell off all its asset purchases over a period of time and may just keep them until they expire. That was a bit of bullish surprise for the raw commodity and stock markets, as there was some worry that the Fed selling off those assets, even over time, could put some downside pressure on many markets.
The European Union and its sovereign debt problems are back on the front burner of the market place after a few months’ hiatus. Italian elections that just concluded and failed to show a clear winner indicated voters ostensibly rebuked present government austerity measures meant to repair Italy’s damaged economic and financial structure. It also suggests political instability in Italy in the coming months. The Italian vote left the market place wondering when the next shoe will fall in the EU debt crisis that remains a serious matter in the world market place. Flight-to-safety buying of U.S. Treasuries, German bunds, gold and the U.S. dollar all quickly came back into vogue. Risk assets such as world stock markets and many commodity markets, and the Euro currency, were pressured on the Italian vote news. Other than the safe-haven German bunds, European bond yields were on the rise as fears of an EU debt contagion are again surfacing. There are Italian government debt auctions Tuesday and Wednesday that will be very closely scrutinized by the market place.
The U.S. government’s likely inability to agree on a taxing and spending plan by the March 1 sequestration deadline has added to a nervous and uncertain atmosphere in the world market place this week.
In Asia, the Japanese stock market fell as the yen rallied on safe-haven investor demand due to the resurfacing of the EU debt crisis. The yen had been on a steady decline for the past four months, but made an abrupt about-face on Monday afternoon.
The U.S. dollar index was higher again Tuesday and hit a fresh six-month high. The U.S. dollar bulls have gained upside technical momentum recently to suggest the dollar index has put in a market bottom and can continue to trend higher in the near term. Meantime, Nymex crude oil futures prices were lower Tuesday and hit a fresh two-month low. The crude oil bears have gained fresh downside near-term technical momentum recently. These two key “outside markets” were in a bearish posture for the precious metals Tuesday, but traders and investors chose to buy the recent dip in gold prices anyway.
The London P.M. gold fixing is $1,590.50 versus the previous London P.M. fixing of $1,586.25.
Technically, April gold futures prices closed nearer the session high Tuesday. Recent serious chart damage is starting to be repaired but the bulls have more heavy lifting to do in the near term to suggest a price uptrend can be sustained. Gold prices are still in a six-week-old downtrend on the daily bar chart. The gold bulls’ next upside near-term price breakout objective is to produce a close above solid technical resistance at $1,650.00. Bears' next near-term downside breakout price objective is closing prices below solid technical support at the February low of $1,554.40. First resistance is seen at Tuesday’s high of $1,619.70 and then at the January low of $1,627.90. First support is seen at $1,600.00 and then at $1,590.00. Wyckoff’s Market Rating: 4.0
May silver futures prices closed near the session high Tuesday and saw more short covering and bargain hunting following recent strong selling pressure. Serious near-term technical damage has been inflicted in silver recently. May silver bears have the near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a six-week-old downtrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls’ next upside price breakout objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $30.00 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the February low of $28.315. First resistance is seen at Tuesday’s high of $29.495 and then at $29.67. Next support is seen at $29.00 and then at this week’s low of $28.60. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 3.5.
May N.Y. copper closed up 235 points at 358.45 cents Tuesday. Prices closed nearer the session high on short covering after hitting a fresh three-month low early on. Serious near-term chart damage was inflicted last week. Copper bears have the overall near-term technical advantage. Copper bulls' next upside breakout objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at 365.00 cents. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at 350.00 cents. First resistance is seen at 360.00 cents and then at 362.50 cents. First support is seen at 355.00 cents and then at Tuesday’s low of 353.35 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 4.0.
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