By FXEmpire.com

Introduction: Gold prices always rise when there is uncertainty in the global economy. In times of uncertainty, investors tend to run towards gold. Suppose, rumors are flying high about some event in the world and this is increasing the uncertainty in the financial markets.

  • Gold reacts to uncertainty in the markets
  • Gold reacts to the Federal Reserve and monetary policy
  • A drop in major currencies can indicate a run into gold.
  • Remember investors tend to take profit from gold so watch for trading opportunities when investors are taking profits, not moving out of the markets.

Weekly Analysis and Recommendations:

Gold had the best week it has seen in months, trading as high as 1628.55 to end the week at 1622.25.

One reason funds may feel comfortable about increasing exposure to Gold is they are concerned that the dollar may weaken during the US election campaign. With the US deficit and high debt likely to become important election issues in the US Presidential campaign, we would not be surprised if the dollar came under pressure.

The stand-off over the deficit ceiling last summer weakened the dollar and the same may be about to happen again as the US faces a ‘fiscal cliff’. Congress now has a choice: they can either let current policy come into play that would see the Bush era tax cuts expire at the end of the year and see automatic spending cuts introduced to prevent the debt ceiling from rising, or they could vote to delay the implementation of the new policy, or change it. The former is likely to hit economic growth, the latter is likely to add to the deficit. Although all eyes are on Europe at present, we expect the US election will soon also come into focus.

Date

Last

Open

High

Low

Change %

Jul 27, 2012

1622.25

1612.45

1628.55

1610.75

0.60%

Jul 26, 2012

1612.65

1602.05

1620.75

1600.25

0.67%

Jul 25, 2012

1601.85

1578.85

1609.45

1578.55

1.43%

Jul 24, 2012

1579.25

1576.35

1583.65

1567.95

0.20%

Jul 23, 2012

1576.15

1580.65

1581.65

1562.45

-0.30%

Once the ECB and the FOMC are finished this week regardless of the outcome, attention is going to shift. At this time gold remains strong on hopes of monetary stimulus, which is booked at a 40% chance this month but a 65% chance in September, but as the US election heats up, we are bound to see the economy become the focal point

FxEmpire provides in-depth analysis for each currency and commodity we review. Fundamental analysis is provided in three components. We provide a detailed monthlyanalysis and forecast at the beginning of each month. Then we provide more recent analysis and information in our weekly reports and we provide daily updates and outlooks.

Major Economic Events for the week of July 23-27 actual v. forecast for Euro, GPB, the Franc, and USD

Date

Currency

Event

Actual

Forecast

Previous

Jul 24

EUR

French Flash Manufacturing PMI

43.6

45.6

45.2

EUR

French Flash Services PMI

50.2

47.7

47.9

EUR

German Flash Manufacturing PMI

43.3

45.3

45.0

EUR

German Flash Services PMI

49.7

50.1

49.9

EUR

Flash Manufacturing PMI

44.1

45.3

45.1

EUR

Flash Services PMI

47.6

47.3

47.1

GBP

BBA Mortgage Approvals

26.3K

31.4K

29.6K

USD

Flash Manufacturing PMI

51.8

52.1

52.5

Jul 25

EUR

German Ifo Business Climate

103.3

104.8

105.2

GBP

Prelim GDP q/q

-0.7%

-0.2%

-0.3%

GBP

CBI Industrial Order Expectations

-6

-11

-11

EUR

Belgium NBB Business Climate

-11.3

-13.5

-13.2

USD

New Home Sales

350K

372K

382K

USD

Crude Oil Inventories

2.7M

-0.1M

-0.8M

Jul 26

EUR

GfK German Consumer Climate

5.9

5.9

5.8

EUR

M3 Money Supply y/y

3.2%

2.9%

3.1%

USD

Core Durable Goods Orders m/m

-1.1%

0.1%

0.8%

USD

Unemployment Claims

353K

381K

388K

USD

Durable Goods Orders m/m

1.6%

0.4%

1.6%

USD

Pending Home Sales m/m

-1.4%

0.6%

5.4%

Jul 27

EUR

German Prelim CPI m/m

0.4%

0.4%

-0.1%

CHF

KOF Economic Barometer

1.43

1.24

1.15

EUR

Spanish Unemployment Rate

24.6%

24.7%

24.4%

USD

Advance GDP q/q

1.5%

1.5%

1.9%

USD

Revised UoM Consumer Sentiment

72.3

72.0

72.0

Economic Highlights of the coming week that affect the Euro, GBP and CHF

Date

Time

Currency

Event

Forecast

Previous

Jul 30

30th-31st

GBP

Nationwide HPI m/m

0.8%

-0.6%

7:00

EUR

Spanish Flash GDP q/q

-0.3%

8:30

GBP

Net Lending to Individuals m/m

1.3B

10:00

GBP

CBI Realized Sales

42

23:01

GBP

GfK Consumer Confidence

-29

Jul 31

6:45

EUR

French Consumer Spending m/m

0.4%

7:55

EUR

German Unemployment Change

7K

9:00

EUR

CPI Flash Estimate y/y

2.4%

9:00

EUR

Unemployment Rate

11.1%

Aug 1

1st-8th

GBP

Halifax HPI m/m

1.0%

7:15

EUR

Spanish Manufacturing PMI

41.1

7:45

EUR

Italian Manufacturing PMI

44.6

8:30

GBP

Manufacturing PMI

48.6

Aug 2

7:00

EUR

Spanish Unemployment Change

-98.9K

7:15

CHF

Retail Sales y/y

6.2%

7:30

CHF

SVME PMI

48.1

8:30

GBP

Construction PMI

48.2

11:00

GBP

Asset Purchase Facility

375B

11:00

GBP

Official Bank Rate

0.50%

0.50%

11:45

EUR

Minimum Bid Rate

0.75%

0.75%

12:30

EUR

ECB Press Conference

Aug 3

8:30

GBP

Services PMI

51.3

9:00

EUR

Retail Sales m/m

0.6%

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Originally posted here