On Thursday, gold capitalized on its safe haven status amid another down day on equity markets and after weak US economic news supported a decision by the US Federal Reserve last week not to raise interest rates.
In late afternoon dealings on the Comex market in New York, gold futures with December delivery dates jumped more than $25 or 2% to $1,156.70 in heavy trade with double the daily average number of contracts changing hands. The last time gold was above the $1,150 resistance level was August 24.
Gold is up 5% from where it was trading before the Fed’s hold on rates which have not been raised since June 2006.
The US Commerce Department said on Thursday orders for durable goods fell in August for the first time in three months, while the Labor Department announced applications for unemployment benefits increased during the week.
That gives ammunition to Fed doves who want to keep interest rates lower for longer and sent the dollar tumbling and bond yields falling.
The dollar and gold and bond yields – specifically inflation-adjusted interest rates – and gold and have strong negative correlations – see charts.
These two graphs from independent research house Capital Economics shows based on the correlation between gold and the dollar and gold and bond yields, the metal still has plenty of upside.
In fact given that the Fed adjusted downward its forecast for year-end 2016 interest rates to 1.375% from 1.625% in June, the gold price could go off these charts:
Source: Capital Economics
Gold performance on Thursday was also boosted by short-covering. Gold speculators were wrong-footed by the decision to keep interest rates near zero as the positioning by hedge funds on the New York futures market appeared to factor in a rate hike.
According to the CFTC’s weekly Commitment of Traders data for the week to September 15 large speculators on Comex – referred to as “managed money” – slashed net bullish positions by 75% to a mere 686,000 ounces.
Speculators added significantly to short positions – bets that gold could be bought cheaper in the future – and at the same time cut longs.
Short positions are now back within shouting distance of 10 million ounces (283 tonnes) while bullish bets have been reduced to more than five year lows.
In late July and early August, hedge funds entered bearish positions not seen since at least 2006, when the Commodity Futures Trading Commission first began tracking the data.
Comments
Gene Byrge
People:: Stop following this government’s pronouncements in your speculations. They are the folks who brought you the 18 trillion debt and a government that is currently being funded by creating worthless bonds and selling them to Managers of pension funds, etc which will collapse when they are sucked dry and all the investors of the hedge funds etc realize that it was all a lie and there will be NO< REPEAT NO redemption This administration and congress are acknowledged liars and cheaters. Wake up and buy hard goods and put them out of the reach of Government authorities who can close institutions with an email. Look at Russians, Indians, and Chinese. They are all buying hard goods (silver, gold, etc) and hoarding them. Those who do that here will be the survivors in years to come. Take a look at diamonds they are small, portable, and WEALTH. Thats what people used in the WW2 years when Hitler was overrunning Europe. You better wake up and provide for your loved ones.