By FX Empire.com

Gold Weekly Fundamental Analysis March 16-24, 2012, Forecast

Gold Weekly Fundamental Analysis March 16-24, 2012, Forecast

Introduction: Gold prices always rise when there is uncertainty in the global economy. In times of uncertainty, wealthy 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
  • 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.

Analysis and Recommendations:

Gold hit a high this week of 1717.25 to end the week at 1659.85. The low for the week was 1634.75.

Gold was maneuvered this week by Mr. Bernanke, who moves it everytime he speaks. Between the FOMC minutes followed the next day by Mr. Bernanke’s speech, gold bounced all around the charts.

Gold is overpriced and oversold, when it fell under the 1650.00 value, investors jumped in hoping they would get one more shot at the 1700 level, pushing gold back up, but it did not have enough strength to get that high. The US economic data has been very positive, the euro crisis situation seems to be under control at the present time, and the rhetoric with Iran and the threats from Israel seem to have mellowed. The USD should move back up in early week trading, so we should see Gold fall slowly there is a good chance it could end up close to the low of this week at 1634.75

Historical

High: 1916.20

Low: 1321.10

Major Economic Events for the week of March 19-24

Mar. 20

01:30

AUD

Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes

Mar. 21

10:30

GBP

MPC Meeting Minutes

15:00

USD

Existing Home Sales

22:45

NZD

GDP (QoQ)

Mar. 22

10:30

GBP

Retail Sales (MoM)

13:30

CAD

Core Retail Sales (MoM)

13:30

USD

Initial Jobless Claims

17:00

EUR

ECB President Draghi Speaks

Mar. 23

12:00

CAD

Core CPI (MoM)

15:00

USD

New Home Sales

The weeks highlights

In Australia, data on skilled vacancies and merchandise imports is set for release.

The Bank of England will also release the minutes of its last meeting, while data on housing starts and building approvals is due in the United States.

The European Union will release draft proposals regarding the regulation of shadow banks.

The International Monetary Fund will host high level talks at the two day China-India conference in New Delhi.

RBA Governor Glenn Stevens will speak at an investment conference in the week ahead.

Monday

The National Association of Home Builders housing market index for March will be released in the United States on Monday.

Tuesday

The RBA will release the minutes of its March policy meeting, where it kept the official cash rate on hold for the second consecutive time. Investors will watch carefully for any reflection on the expected direction that rates will take over the rest of the year. Most economists are still expecting at least one more rate cut in 2012.

US February housing starts figures and building approval data released. Economists are forecasting housing starts to be flat for the month, at around 700,000.

In the United Kingdom, February consumer price index data is awaited, alongside retail price index figures for the month.

Wednesday

The international merchandise figures for February reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Also the Department of Education and Workplace Relations will release its skilled vacancies index for February.

February existing home sales figures in the US, along with the weekly Energy Information Administration petroleum status report. Analysts expect the data to show a rise in home sales of about two per cent.

Thursday

Mortgage Bankers Association mortgage applications figures are also due.

Elsewhere, the Bank of England will release the minutes of its last policy meeting.

UK public sector net borrowing for February is also due.

Also due is the highly anticipated jobless claims data is out in the US. February retail sales data is expected in the UK.

Friday

US new home sales figures for February and experts expect sales to have risen by 6,000 to 327,000.

Economic Releases for the week of March 12-16

Mar. 13

JPY

Interest Rate Decision

0.10%

0.10%

0.10%

EUR

German ZEW Economic Sentiment

22.3

10.5

5.4

USD

Core Retail Sales (MoM)

0.9%

0.8%

1.1%

USD

Retail Sales (MoM)

1.1%

1.1%

0.6%

USD

Interest Rate Decision

0.25%

0.25%

0.25%

Mar. 14

GBP

Claimant Count Change

7.2K

6.0K

7.0K

Mar. 15

CHF

Interest Rate Decision

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

USD

Initial Jobless Claims

351K

356K

365K

Mar. 16

USD

Core CPI (MoM)

0.1%

0.2%

0.2%

USD

CPI (MoM)

0.4%

0.4%

0.2%

Government Bond Auctions (this week)

Mar 19 n/a Greece CDS Auction

Mar 19 10:10 Slovakia Bond auction

Mar 19 10:10 Norway T-bill auction

Mar 20 09:30 Spain 12 & 18M T-bill auction

Mar 21 10:10 Sweden Nominal bond auction

Mar 21 10:30 Germany Eur 5.0bn Mar 2014 Schatz

Mar 21 10:30 Portugal Eur 0.75-1.0bn 4 & 6M T-bills

Mar 22 10:10 Sweden I/L bond auction

Mar 22 10.30 UK Auctions 0.625% 2042 I/L Gilt

Mar 22 15:00 US

Announces auctions of 2Y Notes on Mar 27, 5Y Notes on Mar

28 & 7Y Notes on Mar 29

Originally posted here