Model Gold Portfolio: Neutral (1/13), previous long (12/29)
Technical Read: Gold paused its upward move the last three trading sessions. The yellow metal is now balanced on the edge: overbought (bearish factor) but trending up (bullish factor) as well. The trick is getting an entry and not getting whipsawed. I am waiting for nonlinear trading analysis readings to confirm a safe entry.
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The S&P 500 rebounded off the recent lows (14th and 16th) and the upward forecast is promising. Mildly bearish for gold..
Catalyst 2 –The US dollar index advanced as recent events (Swiss National Bank surprise announcement and the ECB quantitative $1.3t program) are underpending two classic fundamental factors (uncertainty and a weakening euro) that are positive for the greenback. This would normally be a considerable headwind for gold but is a neutral for now as both factors are supportive for the yellow metal as well.
Catalyst 3 – The recent death of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah provided a blip headline on the news front this week. The quick succession plan by the Saudi royal family seemed to minimize possible market disruptions, The question is: Can Islamic extremists use their influence to destabilize the kingdom in the future?
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info. Currently available.
Currency Trading Signals. I will be offering a similar process for currencies (the US Dollar, plus one more) after Jan 31.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for Conquer the Mummy .com “Nonlinear signals that matter in gold trading.”
Model Gold Portfolio: Neutral (1/13), previous long (12/29)
Technical Read: On Conquerthemummy.com, we have played a pretty traditional strategy of late, signaling a buy (12/29) near the low end of the range and then issuing a sell signal (Jan 13) near the end of the top end of the range. The Swiss National Bank change of policy effectively removed the gold sellers and allowed GLD to break its bounds and move higher. So now what? Gray haired traders will attest that markets seem to try and lure traders into questionable entries. The yellow metal is very extended here. I am waiting for nonlinear trading analysis readings to confirm a safe entry.
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The S&P 500 stagger to put in a mild up day in the wake of Chinese economic moderation. The bluechip index is picking up support at roughly 1990. I have the S&P 500 in a nontrending mode. Neutral for gold, for now.
Catalyst 2 –The US dollar index ticked up to a new recent closing high. The Swiss National Bank surprise announcement to unpeg the franc from the euro has introduced an atmosphere of uncertainty about upcoming ECB action (the theory being the Swiss were tipped off ahead of time. On the other hand the ECB has garnered quite the reputation for inaction. Dollar strength is normally bearish for gold but with the uncertainty driving them both up, there is no headwind from the dollar, at this point.
Catalyst 3 – Chinese 4th quarter GDP grew 7.3% (versus year ago numbers), bringing the yearly number to 7.4 %. This is the slowest performance in almost 15 years. Chinese economic moderation is another data point along the way to global deflation. Short-term positive for gold (fear premium) versus long-term negative (lowering tide drops all boats).
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info. Currently available.
Currency Trading Signals. I will be offering a similar process for currencies (the US Dollar, plus one more) after Jan 31.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for Conquer the Mummy .com “Nonlinear signals that matter in gold trading.”
Model Gold Portfolio: Neutral (1/13), previous long (12/29)
Technical Read: Gold leapt on the back of early morning reports that the Swiss National Bank initiated an unexpected policy change (see Catalyst 2). The Swiss central bank neglected to tip Conquerthemummy.com off ahead of time. The 1/13 exit signal came on the back of a flat lining nonlinear trading analysis readings and the fact that price had become overbought, not to mention was now trading at the upper end of the range (119 GLD basis). Now what? The event powered jump put prices above the recent range but nonlinear readings are still not overly bullish. The reasonable decision is to hold our model portfolio as neutral and wait for events to clarify. I would also take this time to reiterate some good news, we closed out a positive trade and were not caught short by the news-oriented event.
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The S&P 500 took the hit on the back of the Swiss news. Blue chips had already worked off overbought technical readings with previous selling. We will have to evaluate this in light of more time. Near-term support is about 15 points away. Neutral for gold, for now.
Catalyst 2 –The US dollar index had a wild, though ultimately positive day as the Swiss central bank announced it would no longer hold the Swiss franc to a fixed level with the euro. Global markets were caught by surprise. The question is why did the Swiss do this? The leading theory is that they were tipped off about coming ECB action (quantitative easing) and wanted to get out of the way ahead of time. This was positive for gold today.
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info. Currently available.
Currency Trading Signals. I will be offering a similar process for currencies (the US Dollar, plus one more) after Jan 31.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for Conquer the Mummy .com “Nonlinear signals that matter in gold trading.”
Model Gold Portfolio: Neutral (1/13), previous long (12/29)
Technical Read: Gold rallied north of its monthly range (119 GLD basis) but then reversed and closed lower. The risk/reward ratio is now overbought. Nonlinear trading analysis has become very tepid as well. The technical read of holding a long position at the high end of the trading range is challenging. The logical move is to exit and wait for another opportunity. Today’s signal is exit long. The model portfolio is now set to neutral.
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The S&P 500 is alternatively bouncing between bullish US economic news (outperforming stagnant Europe) and fears of global economic malaise (the World Bank lowered its outlook for 2015). This is a trendless reading for stocks. Gold is not likely to be buoyed unless stocks drop. Neutral for gold.
Catalyst 2 –The US dollar index had a bearish reversal on the 9th, but the bears found limited follow-through selling since. Trendline analysis is still constructive for the greenback. This is negative for gold.
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info. Currently available.
Currency Trading Signals. I will be offering a similar process for currencies (the US Dollar, plus one more) after Jan 31.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for Conquer the Mummy .com “Nonlinear signals that matter in gold trading.”
Model Gold Portfolio: “long trend” Signal date = 12/29
Technical Read: Friday’s close was the highest in 3 weeks. The reversal after the mild sell-off on the 8th is also bullish for the yellow metal. Nonlinear trading analysis is still on the side of the bulls. The only negative is that it would be nice to get a close above the recent intraday high of 117.5 (Jan 6th GLD basis). The Gold signal is still long.
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The S&P 500 2-day rally took the edge off the fear factor associated with the recent decline. My work has this now at neutral. The glow of the recent sell off should gold sellers off balance a while longer. This is still a plus for gold.
Catalyst 2 –The US dollar index had a down reversal day on Friday but continues to be in a general uptrend. The recent Labor Department report that unemployment dropped to 5.6% in December, highlights that the US economy is one of the brighter bulbs in the show. This is a plus for the dollar versus other currencies. As long as there is a flight-to-quality element to the global ambience, this is going to be a neutral for gold.
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info. Currently available.
Currency Trading Signals. I will be offering a similar process for currencies (the US Dollar, plus one more) after Jan 31.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for Conquer the Mummy .com “Nonlinear signals that matter in gold trading.”
Technical Read: Tuesday’s move high has made the technical read for gold more positive. First, we have a current rebound off a double bottom (Dec 22 and Jan 2). Now we have a breakout of the weekly trading range. Today’s action was a mild reversal that did not make it back through the 12/30 close (i.e. tops become bottoms). The nonlinear analysis that helped get us in? Readings are still constructive. Gold signal is still long.
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The S&P 500 rallied but no enough to reverse the trading downtrend. In short, the news is dominated by plunging oil (scary good) and European sluggishness (just plain scary). This is positive for gold, at least over the short-term.
Catalyst 2 –The US dollar index continues to climb, powered by various flight-to-safety scenarios and the anticipation of quantitative easing schemes from the ECB. Because gold is also benefiting from safety buying (or at least gold sellers stepping back), this is neutral.
The attack by (presumably) ISIS sympathetic gunmen on a French magazine office is now firmly entrenched in the news cycle. This is going to discourage selling in the yellow metal as we go into the weekend.
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info. Currently available.
Currency Trading Signals. I will be offering a similar process for currencies (the US Dollar, plus one more) after Jan 31.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for Conquer the Mummy .com
Technical Read: The last week of trading featured daily hefty market swings that really did not form a trend, however the price action did confirm the recent lows (112.5 GLD basis). Nonlinear trading analysis indicates the highs established on the 30th (116.25 GLD basis) will not halt the upward pressure. The gold trading signal is still long..
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The S&P 500 really continued the rollover today. Chart support is still 50 points away. Big cap stocks are wrestling with global slowing with the new touchstone being Greece (possible leftist gains resulting in some type of Euro decoupling). This is positive for gold.
Catalyst 2 –The US dollar index pushed north on the back of many of the reasons stocks are going down. This is normally a headwind for gold prices but as gold is also a candidate for flight-to-safety buying, it can be a near-term neutral.
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info. Currently available.
Currency Trading Signals. I will be offering a similar process for currencies (the US Dollar, plus one more) after Jan 31.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for Conquer the Mummy .com
Model Gold Portfolio: Now (12/29) “long” previous signal 12/01 “exit long”
Technical Read: The drop in gold today restored short-term the risk/reward reading to an acceptable level. GLD is finding support at the 112-112.5 level (12/01 and 12/22) and unlike the 114 support level, the nonlinear trading analysis indicates 112 should hold. The holiday truncated trading week should help the bulls too. Gold trading signal: We have a buy. This signal is mostly generated as a result of technical models.
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The US dollar index has paused from its recent bullish move. The trend is still up but the greenback may hover here for a while, meaning a limited headwind for gold. If the dollar falls back, it will be a bullish for the yellow metal.
Catalyst 2 – The S&P 500 continues to inch its way up but after 8 positive days (I am fudging on the 24th) a pause is warranted here as well. Since a down day is due, this is a mild positive for gold.
May the Mummy watchers enjoy the New Year’s Day festivities, but I would also invite you to take time and ponder the new year: the doors that will be opened, the doors that will be closed and the “brief authority” in which we all operate.
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info. Currently available.
Currency Trading Signals. I will be offering a similar process for currencies (the US Dollar, plus one more) after Jan 31.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for Conquer the Mummy .com
Model Gold Portfolio: Neutral, last signal 12/01 “exit long”
Technical Read: GLD fell near to the bottom end of the range (approx. 112-117.3, GLD basis) then bounced from the low energetically on Friday. This isn’t bad action for the bulls (nonlinear trading analysis generally supports this), unfortunately Friday’s 2 pt bounce was sufficient to make the market overbought in the current range bound environment. We will have to see what happens next week. Gold trading signals: No signal.
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The US dollar index is still in good shape. Both this and US equities are benefiting from the recent revision in the 3Q GDP up to 5%. This is a very salubrious number from the US and will attract assets from all over the world. Dollar action is bearish for the yellow metal.
Catalyst 2 – The S&P 500 is hugging the top end of its recent trading range. Equity bears are looking for technical selling. The bulls are powered by more fundamental factors. The edge is on higher prices here. This is mildly bearish for the gold trading.
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info. Currently available.
Currency Trading Signals. I will be offering a similar process for currencies (the US Dollar, plus one more) after Jan 31.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for Conquer the Mummy .com
Model Gold Portfolio: Neutral, last signal 12/01 “exit long”
Technical Read: I posted last time that the GLD 114 nascent support level (partially established Dec 5th and 16th) was not confirmed by nonlinear trading analysis. Today’s drop through the level confirms this opinion. We are still in the range (approx. 112-117.3, GLD basis) but rapidly approaching the low end. The next support level is 112, I think this is more likely to hold than 114, however a buy signal has not been generated yet. No signal.
Backdrop:
Catalyst 1 – The UD dollar index has moved north and taken out the monthly highs. Dollar action is bearish for the yellow metal.
Catalyst 2 – The S&P 500 is not retreating from the near-term resistance (approx. 2080). Traders should be wary that a breakout is likely. A move higher would be bearish for the yellow metal.
Ponderable – May the mummy watchers have a considerable amount of Christmas cheer on the 25th!
Bond Trading Signals. I am offering a similar Mummy process for Treasuries. See the “Bond Trading Signals” tab for more info.
GH Garrett – Veteran Commodity Watcher for ConquerTheMummy.com
“Use nonlinear research to help determine the future direction of the S&P and trading can become much less complex.” GH Garrett
Technical Read: Gold paused its upward move the last three trading sessions. The yellow metal is now balanced on the edge: overbought (bearish factor) but trending up (bullish factor) as well. The trick is getting an entry and not getting whipsawed. I am waiting for nonlinear trading analysis readings to confirm a safe entry.
