Morning Futures Roundup

---

Can Gold Continue to Grind Higher?
 Fundamentals

Gold futures could not sustain an early rally toward record highs, due to a stronger US Dollar and commodity weakness. Despite the down day, Gold traders did get a bit of bullish news early, when the ETFS Gold Bullion Securities and ETFS Physical Gold ETFs indicated that their physical holdings climbed to a record $10 between the two funds. Given the jitters surrounding the EU, it is not surprising to see investors heading to higher ground. This indicates that European investors continue to worry that their investments could face currency risk and are looking to invest in physical assets instead of stocks, bonds and other paper investments.

The effect on the Dollar-based gold market, however, remains unclear. A weaker Euro could very well help propel the greenback versus other currencies. A stronger US Dollar could mean diminished demand for commodities and weaken speculator demand for the yellow metal. The Commitment of Traders Report (COT) showed the speculative long position rose by 10,120 contracts, 8,219 of which were non-commercial reportable positions. This could be a sign that the market may be heading toward overbought levels. Many of these trades may have been placed with the expectation of friction at the G20 summit which never materialized. The focus now shifts back to the global economy and growth prospects.




Technical Notes

The August Gold chart shows prices heading toward record highs set last week, only to sell-off when the US market opened. The 20-day moving average has been the support line for the market for the past couple of weeks. A close below the average, along with the inability to make new highs, could trigger further selling and possibly signal a near-term top. Solid closes below the 1230 level could send prices down to their lowest levels in over a month. New contract highs, on the other hand, could trigger further technical buying.
 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL-SIZED CHART


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimers
This article is provided for informational purposes only. No statementin this article should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sella security or to provide investment advice. The content provided hasbeen obtained from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed as toaccuracy and completeness. optionsXpress makes every effort to providetimely information to its recipients but cannot guarantee specificdelivery times due to factors beyond our control.

Derivatives involve substantial risk and are not appropriate for allinvestors. Please read the "DisclosureStatementforFuturesandOptions" prior to investing in futures oroptions.

For investments using a straddle or strangle options strategy thepotential loss is unlimited. Multi-leg option strategies are subject tomultiple commissions. Profits may be eroded by the commission expendedto open and close the positions and otherrisks apply.




    
"

---

View Mike Zarembski's post archive >