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 closed out a rocky week at 1573.15 after tumbling over 50.00 on the words of Fed Chairman Bernanke.
Gold benefited from safe-haven buying ahead of last Sunday’s Greek parliamentary elections and with the prospects of QE on the June 20th meeting, gold continues to soar, as investors shifted from the USD to gold for their safety net.
However, just as we saw during the financial crisis of 2008/2009, during periods of intense risk aversion — as would be the case in the event of a Greek exit from the euro — gold could fall precipitously before it rebounds. How gold will react to various economic outcomes is highly uncertain and the metal has not demonstrated consistency in playing the role of safe haven over short-term periods. Which it is amply demonstrated this week. Gold is now returning to its downward trend, after this risk aversion correction.
The favorable outcome in last weekend’s Greek parliamentary elections gave markets a short-lived boost. A win for pro-bailout politicians means that the country will likely remain in the eurozone, at least in the short-term.
But the Greek-inspired euphoria quickly gave way to concerns elsewhere in Europe. Interest rates on the Spanish 10-year bond yield spiked as high as 7.29 percent early this week amid worries about the Spanish banking system and the likelihood that the government would have to bailout struggling lenders.
By the end of the week, however, yields fell sharply as bargain hunters stepped in to buy Spanish debt. Some traders found the 7 percent yields attractive, arguing that Spain is too big to fail and that the odds of a Spanish default are low. The 10-year yield was last trading near 6.38 percent.
For the U.S., the biggest macro highlight of the week was the Federal Open Market Committee monetary policy decision. In a move that was expected by many, the U.S. central bank extended Operation Twist. The asset swap program, which had been scheduled to end this month, will now continue until the end of the year.
The Fed said that the extension will mean another $267 billion worth of its short-term Treasury holdings will be converted into longer-term Treasuries. Nevertheless, some traders were disappointed that the central bank did not take stronger action in the form of a third round of quantitative easing (QE3).
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 recent analysis and information in our weekly reports and we provide daily updates and outlooks.
Major Economic Events for the week of June 19-23, 2012 actual v. forecast
|
Date |
Time |
Currency |
Importance |
Event |
Actual |
Forecast |
Previous |
|
Jun. 19 |
02:30 |
AUD |
Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes |
||||
|
10:00 |
EUR |
German ZEW Economic Sentiment |
-16.9 |
4.0 |
10.8 |
||
|
Jun. 20 |
09:30 |
GBP |
Claimant Count Change |
8.1K |
-3.0K |
-12.8K |
|
|
17:30 |
USD |
Interest Rate Decision |
0.25% |
0.25% |
0.25% |
||
|
19:15 |
USD |
Fed Chairman Bernanke Speaks |
|||||
|
23:45 |
NZD |
GDP (QoQ) |
1.1% |
0.5% |
0.4% |
||
|
Jun. 21 |
09:30 |
GBP |
Retail Sales (MoM) |
1.4% |
1.2% |
-2.4% |
|
|
13:30 |
Core Retail Sales (MoM) |
-0.3% |
0.2% |
0.3% |
|||
|
13:30 |
USD |
Initial Jobless Claims |
387K |
380K |
389K |
||
|
15:00 |
USD |
Existing Home Sales |
4.55M |
4.57M |
4.62M |
||
|
Jun. 22 |
09:00 |
EUR |
German Ifo Business Climate Index |
105.3 |
105.9 |
106.9 |
|
|
13:30 |
CAD |
Core CPI (MoM) |
0.2% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
Historical
Highest:1921.05 on Sep 06, 2011
Average:1418.48 over this period
Lowest: 1026.95 on Oct 28, 2009
Economic Highlights of the coming week that affect the Euro, GBP, CHF and the USD
|
Date |
Time |
Currency |
Event |
Previous |
|
Jun 25 |
6:00 |
EUR |
GfK German Consumer Climate |
5.7 |
|
25th-30th |
GBP |
Nationwide HPI m/m |
0.3% |
|
|
14:00 |
USD |
New Home Sales |
343K |
|
|
Jun 26 |
8:30 |
GBP |
Public Sector Net Borrowing |
-18.8B |
|
13:00 |
USD |
S&P/CS Composite-20 HPI y/y |
-2.6% |
|
|
14:00 |
USD |
CB Consumer Confidence |
64.9 |
|
|
Jun 27 |
All Day |
EUR |
German Prelim CPI m/m |
-0.2% |
|
8:30 |
GBP |
BBA Mortgage Approvals |
32.4K |
|
|
10:00 |
GBP |
CBI Realized Sales |
21 |
|
|
12:30 |
USD |
Durable Goods Orders m/m |
0.2% |
|
|
14:00 |
USD |
Pending Home Sales m/m |
-5.5% |
|
|
14:30 |
USD |
Crude Oil Inventories |
||
|
Jun 28 |
7:55 |
EUR |
German Unemployment Change |
0K |
|
8:30 |
GBP |
Current Account |
-8.5B |
|
|
8:30 |
GBP |
BOE Credit Conditions Survey |
||
|
8:30 |
GBP |
Final GDP q/q |
-0.3% |
|
|
12:30 |
USD |
Unemployment Claims |
||
|
12:30 |
USD |
Final GDP q/q |
1.9% |
|
|
23:01 |
GBP |
GfK Consumer Confidence |
-29 |
|
|
Jun 29 |
29th-4th |
EUR |
German Retail Sales m/m |
0.6% |
|
6:45 |
EUR |
French Consumer Spending m/m |
0.6% |
|
|
7:00 |
CHF |
KOF Economic Barometer |
0.81 |
|
|
8:00 |
EUR |
M3 Money Supply y/y |
2.5% |
|
|
9:00 |
EUR |
CPI Flash Estimate y/y |
2.4% |
|
|
12:30 |
USD |
Core PCE Price Index m/m |
0.1% |
|
|
12:30 |
USD |
Personal Spending m/m |
0.3% |
|
|
13:45 |
USD |
Chicago PMI |
52.7 |
|
|
13:55 |
USD |
Revised UoM Consumer Sentiment |
74.1 |
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Originally posted here
