Talking Points:
- Crude oil prices seesaw on Trump tariffs, McMaster resignation
- Gold prices rise as geopolitical fears threaten market instability
- US tariff exemptions, spending bill unlikely to cool risk aversion
Crude oil prices fell following Wednesday’s Fed-linked rally after the Trump administration slapped China with punitive tariffs, triggering broad-based risk aversion (as expected).The S&P 500 stock index – a benchmark for broad-based market sentiment – suffered the largest drop in nearly two months.
Gold prices also retreated as the dour mood stoked haven demand for the US Dollar, undermining anti-fiat alternatives. The move lower was relatively tame however as the risk-off mood led capital flows toward the safety of Treasury bonds, weighing on yields and boosting the appeal of non-interest-bearing assets.
Commodities were then jolted higher in early Asia Pacific trade on news that US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster has resigned. Mr Trump plans to replace him with the substantially more hawkish John Bolton, a former ambassador to the United Nations.
Mr Bolton has advocated pre-emptive military action against Iran and North Korea. The threat of follow-through on the former probably stoked fears about crude supply disruption while the broadly greater chance of a bellicose US likely warned of overall market instability, tarnishing paper assets and lifting gold.
Asia Pacific shares are suffering aggressive losses while FTSE 100 and S&P 500 futures are pointing decidedly lower, hinting that the risk-off mood is set to carry through into the week-end. A lull in top-tier scheduled event risk may inspire traders to avoid weekend risk, encouraging liquidation.
News of exemptions from US steel and aluminum tariffs for the EU, Australia, South Korea and Brazil may help calm things down a bit. The Senate’s passage of the $1.3 trillion spending bill may also assist, but probably not decisively so.
Learn what retail traders’ gold buy and sell decisions say about the price trend!
GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Gold prices are attempting to breach resistance marked by the 23.6% Fibonacci expansion at 1333.51. Confirmation on a daily closing basis exposes the 38.2% level at 1352.40the first major layer of support comes in at 1307.25, the bottom of a range prevailing since early February.
CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Crude oil prices are oscillating below resistance in the 66.63-67.49 area (January 25 high, 38.2% Fibonacci expansion). A break to the upside initially exposes the 50% level at 70.38. Alternatively, a turn back below the 23.6% Fib at 63.90 clears the way for a retest the $60/bbl figure.
COMMODITY TRADING RESOURCES
- See our guide to learn about the long-term forces driving crude oil prices
- Having trouble with your strategy? Here’s the #1 mistake that traders make
- Join a Trading Q&A webinar to answer your commodity market questions
--- Written by Ilya Spivak, Currency Strategist for DailyFX.com
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