By FXEmpire.com

Analysis and Recommendations:

Gold prices rose around 0.2 percent today on the back of weakness in dollar index, as a weaker dollar makes dollar denominated commodities look attractive for holders of other currencies. The yellow metal touched an intra-day high of $ 1653/oz and was trading at $1646/oz. Gold is currently at 1653.45

Gold almost paused near 1645 after yesterday’s volatile session following the US Fed chairman’s Bernanke’s comments over US economy. US Fed’s two-day meeting ended yesterday without providing solid cues for another round of monetary easing. US dollar edged down to a three week lows against a basket of currencies after the Fed announcement. At the same time FOMC kept the interest rates unchanged at 0.25 percent and gave indications to maintain the rates at least till the end of 2014.

The sentiment in trade was upbeat after, Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke signaled that it would keep its doors open to the possibility of further easing, in case the economy tails off, and sounded optimistic about the U.S economic recovery. The U.S jobless claims continued to disappoint completing a recent string of muddled economic reports from the US. With the housing sector showing signs of stabilization, the U.S pending home sales figures further vindicated this revival. ( a small bright spot )

However, housing sector in the U.S has a long way to go till it is seen as fully recovered. With the Chinese economy going through a lean patch, a possible Chinese Central bank liquidity action in coming days cannot be ruled out entirely. Such an act could have a real impact on the demand for commodities. The U.S annualized GDP numbers on Friday will be another key event, which could further entice market forces amid a recent string of cluttered economic figures.

Economic Data for April 26, 2012 actual v. forecast

KRW

South Korean GDP (QoQ)

0.9%

0.9%

0.3%

KRW

South Korean GDP (YoY)

2.8%

3.0%

3.3%

GBP

Nationwide Consumer Confidence

53

42

44

DKK

Danish Unemployment Rate

4.30%

4.30%

4.20%

GBP

BBA Mortgage Approvals

31.9K

34.3K

32.8K

GBP

CBI Distributive Trades Survey

-6

-4

0

BRL

Brazilian Unemployment Rate

6.2%

6.0%

5.7%

USD

Initial Jobless Claims

388K

375K

389K

USD

Continuing Jobless Claims

3315K

3295K

3312K

USD

Pending Home Sales (MoM)

1.0%

-0.5%

Economic Events scheduled for April 27, 2012 that affect the European and American Markets

06:00 EUR Gfk Consumer Confidence Survey (May)

The GfK Consumer Confidence is a leading index that measures the level of consumer confidence in economic activity. A high level of consumer confidence stimulates economic expansion while a low level drives to economic downturn

n/a GBP Nationwide Housing Prices s.a (MoM) (Mar)

The Nationwide Housing Prices shows the value of the houses prices in UK and indicate current movements in the housing market that is considered as a sensitive factor to the UK’s economy.

n/a GBP Nationwide Housing Prices n.s.a (YoY) (Mar)

The Nationwide Housing Prices shows the value of the houses prices in UK and indicate current movements in the housing market that is considered as a sensitive factor to the UK’s economy.

09:00 CHF KOF Leading Indicator (Apr)

The KOF Swiss Leading Indicator is released by the Konjunkturforschungsstelle Swiss Institute for Business Cycle Research and it’s a joint survey with leading indicator which measures future trends of the overall economic activity. It captures the movement of GDP growth and the economic trend in Switzerland

12:30 USD Gross Domestic Product Annualized (Q1)

The Gross Domestic Product annualized released by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis shows the monetary value of all the goods, services and structures produced within a country in a given period of time. It is a gross measure of market activity because it indicates the pace at which a country’s economy is growing or decreasing.

12:30 USD Gross Domestic Purchases Price Index (Q1)

The GDP Price Index released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce gauges the change in the prices of goods and services. Changes in the GDP price index are followed as an indicator of inflationary pressure that may anticipate interest rates to rise.

12:30 USD Real Personal Consumption Expenditures (QoQ) (Q1

The Real Personal Consumption Expenditure released by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis is an average of the amount of money the consumers spend in a month on durable goods, consumer products, and services.. It is considered as an important indicator of inflation.

13:55 USD Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (Apr)

The Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index released by the Reuters/University of Michigan is a survey of personal consumer confidence in economic activity. It shows a picture of whether or not consumers are willing to spend money

Government Bond Auctions (this week)

Apr 27 09:10 Italy BTP/CCTeu auction

Apr 27 09:10 Italy Eur 1.5-2.5bn 4.75% May 2017 & Eur 1.5-2.5bn 5.5% Sep 2022 & Eur

0.75-1.25bn 3.75% Apr 2016 & 4.25% Feb 2019 BTPs

May 01 09:30 UK Auctions 4.5% 2042 Conventional Gilt

May 02 09:10 Sweden Nominal bond auction

May 02 09:30 Portugal Eur 1.25-1.5bn new Nov 2012 & new May 2013 T-bills

May 02 13:00 US Announces details of 3Y Notes on May 08, 10Y Notes on May 09 & 30Y

Bonds on May 10

May 02 14:30 Sweden Details T-bill auction on May 09

May 03 08:30 Spain Bono auction

May 03 08:50 France OAT auction

Click here to read Gold Technical Analysis.

Originally posted here