2013/07/02

EUR/USD And Gold Gain On Manufacturing

Stronger than expected manufacturing data from Europe and Japan yesterday lifted the EUR/USD to 1.3052 up from last week’s low of 1.2983.  DXY, the USD index against a basket of currencies, fell 0.2 % while the USD/JPY again sniffed on 100 Yen/Dollar level. For the first time in months there was positive manufacturing data from the Euro zone and England. This created a better market sentiment with increased appetite for risk. Stock exchanges in Europe and the US ended higher.

The Dow Jones traded close to 15 000 at 14 974 up 0.5 %.  The technology heavy Nasdaq added 0.85 %. After falling as low as USD 1180 an ounce Friday, gold gained both yesterday and is up 2.1 % today at 1250. Other commodities such as copper, also recovered.  Oil prices got a welcomed boost by the stronger manufacturing. New York crude, NYMEX, jumped above USD 98 a barrel and Brent crude reached USD 103 after trading close to 100 at the end of last week.

The increased gold prices represent the most interesting development during this week.Triggered by the comments from the Federal Reserve, FED, gold started its slide in earnest in April when FED Chairman, Ben Bernanke, set out a framework for the first time for the US central bank to exit its “quantitative easing”. Gold peaked at USD 1250 yesterday. The open question now is whether USD 1180 represents a bottom, and this week’s turn around is a technical correction after the 29.5 % tumble since the 1st of January. Investors shift away from Gold has been dramatic. Fund managers have been selling one fifth of their Gold holding, and the interest for Gold futures and options are the weakest since 2005.  Some analysts see investor’s positioning so extreme that Gold, in the short term, is unlikely to fall much lower.  A sidelong trade is expected. Impacting Gold negatively is weak Asian interest presently.  Asians have been the strongest supporters with Gold declining, but this time there is no appetite for buying. The concentration has instead been on the high cost of Gold producing. 

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