Gold & Silver; Whipsawed!

Bullion Round Up

Jobless claim number came up higher than expectation for the second consecutive week - boosting both gold and silver prices. The general sentiment was a wait and see mode but as we mentioned many times in our previous commentaries, volatile trading remains in a tight range of $ 1660 to $ 1686 (gold) and $ 31.00 and $ 32.00 (silver).

Gold traded at the top range of $ 1683 before a quick sell off to find support at $ 1662.50 areas. While silver prices broke lower beyond the short term uptrend line to find support at $ 31.25 area. CNBC interviewed Fed Charlie Evans who suggested that the QE programme could end should unemployment reach the 7% target. In his interview, Evans added that he only see the 7% in 2014 and expect the Fed to continue the programme. Investors did not take kindly to his comment and start the selling spree on gold and silver.

Economic Round up

PBOC said that China must be alert to changes in price-gain expectations and to imported inflation coming from various countries that are actively easing their currencies. They raised such concern as inflation risks could affect Chinese domestic economy that is growing rapidly. If policy makers were to increase rate and rein in their loose monetary policy then industrial metals could be badly affected.
Meanwhile, EU leaders started the two day summits in Brussels on EU budget talks.

Expenditure cuts are their top priority but analysts felt the talks will be “difficult and divisive”. As expected the ECB maintain the interest rate at .75% and Mr. Draghi was questioned at length regarding MPS, Euro strength as well as the possible bailout on Ireland. On the other hand, George Soros made a stark warning that he has drastically reduced all Euro-related exposure despite the fact that only a few weeks ago he was cautiously optimistic about the Euro zone.

Gold Technical

Short Term:
The yellow metal is full of surprises and always put in a show. There was never a day without a volatile roller coaster adventure as prices ping down to retest support and dip buyers lining up their bids to push it back up. Nevertheless, it is still stuck in a range between $ 1665 and $ 1686. The stochastic has pointed lower and the MACD suggest a possible bearish momentum in the short term.

Medium Term: As per our last commentary, gold retested its support level at the 200 DMA ($ 1663.68). Stochastic has crossed higher but the MACD remains stuck in the negative zone. We will be more bullish should the resistance at $ 1685 and $ 1697 is taken out.

Silver Technical

Short Term:
Bollinger bands are growing tighter which suggest a growing pressure of an outbreak. A downside outbreak failed and prices recovered after it found buying interest below $ 31.30 area. Short term stochastic has cross negatively and the MACD is heading lower. The 4 hourly charts put up a bullish symmetrical triangle pattern with an upside biased. A break pass $ 32.00 will give the bull a good reason to go long.

Medium Term:
Silver found buying interests at the support level of $ 31.23 (38.2%) retracement line we quoted. We will maintain our neutral bullish stance on silver and look to target $ 32.47 and then the 2012 - 2013 resistance line at $ 33.29.

Currencies

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08 Feb 2013 | Categories: Gold, Silver

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