By FXEmpire.com

Analysis and Recommendations:

Gold is quoting a substantial percentage up as equities nudged up trading at 1638.25. The ECB held its benchmark interest rate at 1%, defying expectations that it would cut rates amidst a challenging Eurozone-wide growth environment and very tight financial conditions. Euro is trading higher against the USD and German government bond yields are very slightly higher. Markets were trading positively heading into the decision. Equities traded higher across the Eurozone and the UK, and futures are indicating a higher open in North America. US treasuries are 1-2bps higher across the curve as are Canadian government bonds.

Commodities are bid, with both crude and gold higher, and the commodity-linked currencies are higher as well (although that is somewhat linked to domestic factors, including very strong Australia GDP data released overnight). Spanish and Italian government bond yields are bid across their respective government curves as the press is brimming with speculation about the possibility of ESM funds being tapped for a bailout of the Spanish banking system. Spanish authorities yesterday implied that they would be open to a bailout of their country’s banking system under the auspices of a common EU banking regulator. Comments from European government officials have been unsurprisingly mixed: statements by French officials imply that France is open to the possibility; German politicians are highly opposed to it and would prefer that the Spanish government apply to the ESM through the established mechanisms, etc. In any event, we don’t think that progress will be made one way or the other until the the EU summit due to take place on June 28-29. That summit will occur following the Greek elections, so the entire picture ought to be clearer at that stage. Where gold may draw refuge while a mere Euro zone GDP reading may restrain the currency.

Hence, gold might have a restricted upside move during the European session. Nevertheless, during the US hours the increasing labor cost may help the metal to gain fueled by the anticipation of Bernanke’s testimony of a failure to prove a good shaped US economy

FxEmpire provides in-depth analysis for each currency and commodity we review. Fundamental analysis is provided in three components. We provide a detailed monthly analysis and forecast at the beginning of each month. Then we provide more up to the data analysis and information in our weekly reports.

Economic Data for June 6, 2012 actual v. forecast

Date

Time

Currency

Event

Actual

Forecast

Previous

Jun. 06

02:30

AUD

GDP (QoQ)

1.3%

0.5%

0.6%

10:00

EUR

GDP (QoQ)

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

11:00

EUR

German Industrial Production

-2.2%

-1.0%

2.2%

12:45

EUR

Interest Rate Decision

1.00%

1.00%

1.00%

13:30

USD

Nonfarm Productivity (QoQ)

-0.9%

-0.7%

-0.5%

13:30

USD

Unit Labor Costs (QoQ)

1.3%

2.2%

2.0%

Upcoming Economic Events that affect the CHF, EUR, GBP and USD

Date

Time

Currency

Event

Forecast

Previous

Jun 7

7:00

CHF

Foreign Currency Reserves

235.6B

7:15

CHF

CPI m/m

0.1%

8:30

GBP

Services PMI

53.3

TBD

EUR

French 10-y Bond Auction

11:00

GBP

Asset Purchase Facility

325B

11:00

GBP

Official Bank Rate

0.50%

0.50%

TBD

GBP

MPC Rate Statement

12:30

USD

Unemployment Claims

383K

14:00

USD

Fed Chairman Bernanke Testifies

Jun 8

8:30

GBP

PPI Input m/m

-1.5%

8:30

GBP

Consumer Inflation Expectations

3.5%

TBD

GBP

10-y Bond Auction

12:30

USD

Trade Balance

-51.8B

14:00

USD

Fed Chairman Bernanke Testifies

Government Bond Auctions

Date Time Country

Jun 07 00:30 Japan

Jun 07 08:30 Spain

Jun 07 08:50 France

Jun 07 09:10 Sweden

Jun 07 15:00 US

Jun 08 10:00 Belgium

Jun 08 15:30 Italy

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Originally posted here