Gold Prices May Continue to Fall After Largest Drop in 2 Months

2017-09-12 04:21:00

Talking Points:

Gold prices may continue to fall as UK, US inflation numbers rise
Crude oil prices look to OPEC, EIA and API reports for direction
What do retail traders’ bets say about gold trends? Find out here

Gold prices plunged as a market-wide recovery in risk appetite sent capital flows pouring out of the safety of Treasury bonds, pushing yields upward alongside shares. The chipper mood likewise echoed in Fed rate hike expectations, with the priced-in 2017 policy path steepening and sending the US Dollar upward. Not surprisingly, this undermined the appeal of non-interest-bearing and anti-fiat assets.

Looking ahead, UK CPI data is expected to see the headline on-year inflation rate rising to 2.8 percent in August, a hair below the four-year high of 2.9 percent set in May. While markets are not expecting the BOE to raise rates this year, prospects for tightening in 2018 have firmed recently. Firm price growth data that reinforces this dynamic may boost global tightening bets, hurting the yellow metal.

From there, US PPI enters the picture. Median forecasts see factory-gate price growth posting the first increase in four months to hit 2.5 percent, the highest since April. An outcome echoing broad improvement in US news-flow over the past three months may give Fed tightening prospects another upward nudge – a dire prospect for precious metals – although follow-through may wait for CPI data due Thursday.

Crude oil prices paused to consolidate losses after suffering the largest drop in three months on Friday. Separate monthly outlook reports from the EIA and OPEC are due in the hours ahead while API will release weekly inventory flow statistics. Taken together, these will inform prospects for working down a global supply glut, an effort led by the cartel’s production cut scheme and offset by US output.

What are the market fundamentals driving long-term crude oil price trends? Find out here !

GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS – Gold prices proved unable to sustain the ascent to 13-month highs as suspected, turning sharply lower to post the largest drop since early July. From here, a daily close below the 1312.62-21.51 area (23.6% Fibonacci retracement, trend line) exposes the 1295.46-99.25 zone (38.2% level, double top). Alternatively, a reversal back above the 14.6% Fib at 1335.24 opens the door for a retest of the September 8 high at 1357.50.

Chart created using TradingView

CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS – Crude oil prices are digesting losses after recoiling from trend line resistance guiding them lower since February. A move below support at 47.54, the 38.2% Fibonacci expansion, exposes the 50% level at 46.98 anew. Alternatively, a push back above the 23.6% Fib at 48.25 paves the way for another challenge of 49.39 (September 6 high, trend line).