Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD to come under pressure if real rates remain elevated – SocGen

 Gold has resisted higher real rates, strong dollar and fund outflows, but remains vulnerable, in the view of strategists at Société Générale.

Gold has outperformed treasuries and TIPS so far this year

“In the past, we have observed that gold seems to correlate well with three factors – US real rates, the dollar and ETF flows (regression r-squared of almost 95%). However, the price of gold has remained quite elevated compared to the theoretical value yielded by our models.”

“If real rates remain elevated for the foreseeable future, one of the assets that could come under pressure is gold.”

“Gold has outperformed treasuries and TIPS so far this year, but may not be able to resist the high yield for much longer if there is no pivot in the near-term from the Fed.”

EUR/JPY Price Analysis: Still scope for a move to 144.00

 

• EUR/JPY comes under some pressure and fades two daily gains in a row.
• There is still room for a potential rebound to the 144.00 region.

EUR/JPY seems to have met decent resistance around daily highs near 142.30 at the end of the week.

The continuation of the bounce off last week’s lows remains on the table in the very near term. That said, the cross could therefore extend the bullish attempt to the weekly top at 144.04 (September 20), which is deemed as the last defense for a move to the 2022 peak at 145.63 (September 12).

In the meantime, while above the key 200-day SMA at 135.84, the constructive outlook for the cross should remain unchanged.

Malaysia: Trade balance figures came on the strong side – UOB

 UOB Group’s Senior Economist Julia Goh and Economist Loke Siew Ting review the latest trade balance figures in Malaysia.

Key Quotes

“Malaysia’s external trade surprisingly posted stronger gains last month, in part due to year-ago low base effects. Export growth hit a 16-month high of 48.2% y/y in Aug (Jul: +38.0%, UOB est: +30.5%, Bloomberg est: +34.3%) as a result of a triple-digit gain in re-exports (+112.5%) versus a double digit gain in domestic exports (+34.8%). Imports posted the largest ever annual growth on record, at 67.6% (Jul: +41.8%, UOB est: +48.0%, Bloomberg est: +48.0%). This brought trade surplus higher to MYR16.9bn from MYR15.6bn in the preceding month.”

“Increased shipments of commodity-based and electrical & electronic (E&E) products amid stronger demand from almost all trading partners were key drivers of robust export growth in Aug. Exports of petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and optical & scientific equipment registered the highest monthly value in the month. Exports to the ASEAN region, South Korea and Hong Kong improved by more than 50% while shipments to the US jumped the most in 15 months by 38.2%.”

“Given that Aug’s export reading defied our earlier expectations of a soft patch in the greater part of 2H22 and the 30.3% year-to-date export growth moved further apart from our full-year growth target of 18.0%, we now upgrade our export growth projection to 26.0% for 2022 with statistical base and commodity price effects remaining wildcards for the outlook. We expect the recent retreat in major commodity prices and lingering global uncertainties particularly a global recession risk to weigh on Malaysia’s export outlook going into 2023, leading to a modest export growth of 1.5% next year.”

USD/CNH: Next on the upside comes 7.0500 – UOB

 Quek Ser Leang at UOB Group’s Global Economics & Markets Research suggests USD/CNH could retest 7.1000 once 7.0500 is cleared.

Key Quotes

“In our last Chart of the Day update from 29 Aug 2022, when USD/CNH was trading at a much lower level of 6.9200, we titled our update ‘USD/CNH could continue to advance, likely at a rapid pace as there are hardly any resistance levels of note until 7.0000’. While our view of a ‘rapid pace of advance’ was not wrong, USD/CNH did not break 7.0000 as it soared to 6.9967 about a week later before pulling back to a low of 6.9100.”

“USD/CNH rebounded sharply from 6.9100 and yesterday (15 Sep 2022), it cracked 7.0000. The break of the ‘psychological level’ resulted in a swift and sharp surge and USD/CNH continues to accelerate higher today. The price actions are not surprising as the next resistance level of note is at 7.0500. Looking ahead, if 7.0500 is broken, the focus will shift to 7.1000. Within these couple of months, the 2019 and 2020 highs, both near 7.1960, are unlikely to come into view.”

On the downside, the rising trend-line support, currently at 6.9400, is a strong support level but only a breach of the 21-day exponential moving average (at the time of writing, the level is at 6.9260) would indicate the current strong upward pressure has eased.”

Silver Price Analysis: XAG/USD maintains a large top, further downside ahead – Credit Suisse

 Silver maintains the top analysts at Credit Suisse have been highlighting since mid-May. Therefore, XAG/USD is expected to decline towards the $15.56 support.

Break above $21.39 remains needed to negate the top

“Silver has risen back above the crucial 61.8% retracement support of the whole 2020/21 upmove at $18.65/15, however, still maintains a large top below $21.39 and we hence expect further downside from here towards the $15.56 support from a technical analysis perspective.”

“Next resistance is seen at $20.87 and above $21.39 remains needed to negate the top.”

Euro holds above 2-decade low before ECB decision

 LONDON (Reuters) - The euro was hovering above Tuesday's two-decade low on Thursday as investors awaited a policy decision from the European Central Bank (ECB) and comments from the head of the Federal Reserve for insight on the path for global monetary tightening.

The ECB is expected to raise rates by 75 basis points (bps), taking its deposit rate above zero for the first time since 2012, but the option of a smaller 50 basis point hike hasn't been ruled out.

"We expect the ECB to only do 50 basis points today, instead of the consensus view of 75," said Chris Turner, head of markets at ING. "If that's the case, we think euro-dollar probably corrects back down to about $0.99."

By 0747 GMT, the euro was trading down 0.3% at $0.99795, holding above its lowest level since late 2002 of $0.9864 as Europe's energy crisis keeps the single currency under pressure and the dollar reigns as the Fed reiterates its commitment to bring inflation down to target.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to participate in a discussion at 1310 GMT -- overlapping with ECB chief Lagarde's post-decision press conference -- with Fed officials soon due to enter into a blackout period prior to the central bank's Sept. 20-21 meeting.

Recent Fed rhetoric has continued to be hawkish overall.

Boston Fed President Susan Collins said on Wednesday that bringing inflation back down to 2% is the Fed's "Job One," while Vice Chair Lael Brainard said tight monetary policy will continue "for as long as it takes to get inflation down."

Money markets lay 79% odds that the Fed will hike by another 75 basis points at this month's meeting, which would increase the fed funds rate to 3.0% to 3.25%.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the currency against six major counterparts, edged up 0.1% lower to 109.82, after hitting a peak at 110.79 on Wednesday, a level not seen since June 2002.

Sterling weakened 0.4% to $1.1486, heading back toward the previous day's 37-year low of $1.1407, ahead of new British Prime Minister Liz Truss's announcement on her plans to tackle soaring energy bills.

Japan's yen showed some resilience on Thursday, trading little changed at 143.77 per dollar, after reaching a 24-year low of 144.99 in the previous session.

The yen has been a particular victim of recent dollar strength, partly due to its sensitivity to rising long-term U.S. yields as hawkish Fed bets ramped up and the Bank of Japan remains the holdout dovish central bank.

"Ongoing depreciation pressure on the yen has raised the probability of a change in policy (from the Bank of Japan) later this year," Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) analysts said in a research note.

"If the BoJ drops YCC (yield curve control), rate differentials vs the U.S. should stop widening, and the rise in USD/JPY should pause or reverse."

Officials from Japan's Finance Ministry, Bank of Japan and Financial Services Agency are meeting today to discuss global financial markets, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.

Meanwhile, the Aussie fell 0.5% to $0.67345, earlier tumbling as low as $0.6713, after RBA Governor Lowe said in a speech "the case for a slower pace of increase in interest rates becomes stronger as the level of the cash rate rises."

EUR/USD Price Analysis: Upside remains capped by 1.0100

 

• EUR/USD fades the initial bull run to 0.9985/90.
• The resumption of the selling pressure could retest the YTD low.

EUR/USD climbed to the proximity of 0.9990 earlier in the session, just to deflate afterwards and return to the 0.9930 region.

Against that, the inability of the pair to regain serious upside traction should keep the door to further retracement open in the near term. Extra losses face the immediate target at the 2022 low at 0.9877 (September 5) seconded by 0.9859 (December 2002 low) and then 0.9685 (October 2002 low).

The continuation of the downtrend remains in the pipeline, as the daily RSI around 36 still allows for some weakness prior to reach the oversold territory.

In the longer run, the pair’s bearish view is expected to prevail as long as it trades below the 200-day SMA at 1.0780.

US Dollar Index looks bid above 107.00 ahead of PMIs

 

• The index posts decent gains beyond the 107.00 mark.
• US yields extend the decline across the curve on Friday.
• Flash Manufacturing/Services PMIs next on tap in the docket.

The greenback, in terms of the US Dollar Index (DXY), leaves behind Thursday’s pullback and regains the area beyond 107.00 the figure at the end of the week.

US Dollar Index now looks to data, FOMC

The index extends the erratic performance so far this week and advances north of the 107.00 yardstick, as market participants seen to have already digested the start of the hiking cycle by the ECB on Thursday.

Contrasting with the upbeat tone in the buck, yields in the US cash markets continue their march south and already navigate in multi-session lows across the curve ahead of the key FOMC event due on July 27.

In the NA session, the advanced Manufacturing and Services PMIs for the month of July will be the only releases of note later in the NA session.

What to look for around USD

The index looks side-lined in the 107.00 neighbourhood amidst a broad-based range bound theme so far this week.

In the meantime, the dollar remains underpinned by the Fed’s divergence vs. most of its G10 peers (especially the ECB) in combination with bouts of geopolitical effervescence and the re-emergence of the risk aversion among investors. On the flip side, market chatter of a potential US recession could temporarily undermine the uptrend trajectory of the dollar somewhat.

Key events in the US this week: Flash PMIs (Friday).

Eminent issues on the back boiler: Hard/soft/softish? landing of the US economy. Escalating geopolitical effervescence vs. Russia and China. Fed’s more aggressive rate path this year and 2023. US-China trade conflict. Future of Biden’s Build Back Better plan.

US Dollar Index relevant levels

Now, the index is up 0.49% at 107.12 and faces next contention at 106.38 (weekly low July 20) followed by 103.67 (weekly low June 27) and finally 103.41 (weekly low June 16). On the other hand, a break above 109.29 (2022 high July 15) would expose 109.77 (monthly high September 2002) and then 110.00 (round level).

EUR/USD Price Analysis: Sustained gains seen above 1.0670/80

 

• EUR/USD keeps the erratic activity well in place this week.
• The 1.0670/80 band continues to cap the upside so far.

EUR/USD resumes the upside bias past the 1.0500 mark following Thursday’s decent pullback.

So far, and as long as the 4-month line in the 1.0670/80 band limits the upside, extra pullbacks in the pair should remain on the cards in the near term. The surpass of this area, however, could spark a bull run to the June top at 1.0773 and the May peak at 1.0786.

In the longer run, the pair’s bearish view is expected to prevail as long as it trades below the 200-day SMA at 1.1136.

US Dollar Index Price Analysis: Room for a test of YTD highs

 

• DXY resumes the upside beyond the 103.00 yardstick.
• Next on the upside comes the cycle tops near 104.00.

The index leaves behind the pullback seen at the end of last week and advances above the 103.00 area on Monday.

Price action in DXY remains supportive of the resumption of the uptrend with the initial target at the 2022 highs just below the 104.00 yardstick (April 28). Above this level comes 105.63 (December 11 2002 high).

The current bullish stance in the index remains supported by the 8-month line near 96.80, while the longer-term outlook for the dollar is seen constructive while above the 200-day SMA at 95.56

precious metal Gold bounced up to 1936.

 

Comment on Gold on 05/04/2022:

- In yesterday's trading session, after falling to the 1915 price zone, precious metal Gold bounced up to 1936. Yesterday's session closed with a rising green candle, but this increase was insignificant and according to Gold will continue to move sideways in the range of 1938-1915.

- My personal view in today's trading session is biased towards #sell. We can sell short at the upper edge of the 1930-1937 flat zone with a safe target around 1915-1920. Here we liquidate the order and wait for the signal. I will update later when there is a buying rhythm.

Euro edges higher as focus on Ukraine, yen rebounds vs dollar

The euro was edging higher on Friday, but concerns about a potential slowdown of the economy kept it in a tight range, while the dollar weakened as investors priced in the expected monetary tightening from the Federal Reserve.

"The combination of lingering Russia-related risks, high energy prices and Fed-ECB policy divergence still points to a weaker, rather than stronger, EUR/USD,” ING analysts said.

"EUR-USD remains quite stuck at around 1.10, with better-than-expected PMI surveys across the eurozone for March not sufficient to induce buying interest,” Unicredit (MI:CRDI) analysts said in a research note.

German business morale deteriorated in March due to worsening supply chain issues resulting from high petrol prices and driver shortages, a survey showed on Friday.

The single currency rose 0.1% to $1.1016

Derek Halpenny, head of global research markets at MUFG, said in a note to clients that some renewed optimism over the prospect of the end of the conflict in Ukraine “helped improve financial market conditions and weaken the U.S. dollar.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainians "need to achieve peace" and halt Russian bombardment.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against six peers, edged 0.1% lower to 98.631

BofA analysts underlined markets priced in next moves from the Fed even before it started and a lot more rapidly than during the previous tightening cycle between 2015 and 2018.

Money markets are betting on 190 bps of Fed rate hikes by year-end, including an 80% chance of a 50 bps in May. [IRPR]

Japan’s yen staged a rebound versus the greenback, up 0.6%, after hitting a fresh low since December 2015 overnight on the difference in rate hike expectations between the Bank of Japan and other major central banks.

Analysts flagged that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) provided a bullish signal as it refrained from stepping into the market Friday morning, even as the 10-year government bond yield rose above the level at which the central bank had offered to buy an unlimited amount in February.

However, Governor Haruhiko Kuroda clarified that a weak yen benefits the economy.

“We don't expect a significant further depreciation of the yen versus the dollar. We think that at 115, it is fairly valued considering the Japanese central bank's dovish stance,” Roman Ziruk, market analyst at Ebury, said.

The Norwegian crown was down 0.2% lower against the euro after rising the previous day as the central bank raised its benchmark interest rate and said it now plans to hike at a faster pace than previously intended.

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