GOLD- BUY AND HOLD: RSBL

 by Mr. Prithviraj Kothari, MD, RSBL

Bullion has rallied 26 percent in 2016, recovering from three years of losses, as low or negative interest rates have strengthened demand. Political uncertainty has also played a part, with the U.K.’s vote to quit the European Union spurring haven demand. Forecasters including Singapore-based DBS Group Holdings Ltd. have said that the U.S. contest may buttress prices amid concern about the possible implications of a Trump presidency.

Gold may be in for a bumpy ride in the final quarter as Republican candidate Donald Trump now has a 40 percent chance of winning the presidential election and investors will be preparing for the possibility of higher U.S. interest rates, according to Citigroup Inc. A probable victory of Donald Trump increases the chances of a single U.S. hike by the end of 2016.

But if it happens otherwise, then gold prices are likely to steady during 25-29 September after the US Federal Reserve decided to leave interest rates unchanged, according to analysts. 

Bullion has been provoked from inertia after Fed rate concerns had helped wipe out gains for the quarter.

There is once again an inflow of capital in the market as low borrowing costs in the U.S. and economic stimulus by central banks from Japan to Europe drive demand for the precious metal as a store of value.

Over the previous week, gold achieved the best performance since July 2016 with a 2.4% rise, while the US dollar index recoded the worst performance, reaching 95.472 against a basket of currencies.

The precious metal is heading for the biggest weekly advance since July after U.S. central bankers opted to leave interest rates unchanged while reining in their outlook for future increases.

Gold prices edged lower on Friday, but notched the strongest weekly advance in almost two months after the Federal Reserve held off on raising interest rates and scaled back the number of rate hikes it expects next year.

This has once again pushed gold prices upwards and traders are no into the buy-and-hold mode for gold.

The precious metal is sensitive to moves in U.S. rates, which lift the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as bullion. A gradual path to higher rates is seen as less of a threat to gold prices than a swift series of increases.

Meanwhile, investors will be focusing on a series of important events lined up this week that play a pivotal role in influencing gold prices.

• A pair of speeches from European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is to testify before the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of European Parliament, in Brussels.
• For fresh hints on whether the ECB will step up monetary stimulus in the coming months to boost inflation and prop up the economy.
• Speech by Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda will be eyed in wake of last week's decision by the BOJ to modify its policy framework
• Focus will also be maintained on the first U.S. presidential debate on Monday between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican hopeful Donald Trump
• Other speeches to be given by

                -Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan

                -Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz

                -Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer

                -BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda is to speak in Tokyo.

• U.S. is to release data on new home sales, private sector data on consumer confidence, publish data on durable goods orders, to publish final figures on second quarter growth
• Fed Chair Janet Yellen is scheduled to testify before the House Financial Services Committee on regulation and supervision, while St. Louis Fed chief James Bullard is to speak in St. Louis.
• The Bank of Japan's big policy review is likely to see more QE and negative rates in the long run.
• Germany is to publish preliminary inflation data and a report on unemployment change.
• Japan is to release data on inflation and household spending.
• China is to publish its Caixin manufacturing index.
• Germany is to release data on retail sales.
• The U.K. is to report on the current account and publish revised data on second quarter growth.
• The euro zone is to release preliminary data on consumer inflation.
• Canada is to publish data on economic growth.
• The U.S. is to round up the week with data on personal income and spending, a report on business activity in the Chicago region and revised data on consumer sentiment.

Now  that series of events are scheduled for the week we expects markets player to be alert and markets to be volatile.

The primary purpose of this article by Mr. Prithviraj Kothari is to educate the masses of the current happenings in the Bullion world.

Previous blog:
"BULLISH SENTIMENTS FOR GOLD: RSBL
http://riddisiddhibullionsltd.blogspot.in/2016/09/bullish-sentiments-for-gold-rsbl.html
 

HIGHER GOLD PRICES FOR THE DOMESTIC MARKET: RSBL

  By Mr. Prithviraj Kothari, MD, RSBL

Firstly I would like to congratulate all the Rio Olympic representatives of India who worked so hard and attained commendable feats for our country. While we saw Indian achieving remarkable feats, at the same time gold prices in the domestic market were shining in spite of a global downtrend.

Where on one hand gold in the global markets was down 0.34 percent at $1,347 per ounce, on the other hand the yellow metal in the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity commenced the week higher at Rs. 31,130 and Rs. 30,980 and advanced to closed at Rs. 31,250 and Rs. 31,100 per 10 gram respectively, showing a rise of Rs. 175 each.

Markets remained closed on Monday for 'Independence Day' and Thursday for 'Raksha Bandhan'. Bullion traders said increased buying by jewellers to meet festive season demand from retailers amid a firm global trend mainly kept precious metal prices higher.
While Makar Sankrant marks a pause to festive celebrations, on the other hand Raksha Bandhan marks the onset of the festive season in India. 

Gold has seen a sharp upsurge in demand on a sudden jump in Japanese yen against the dollar. Crude oil prices have also increased over the last few months. With the investment buying continues, gold is seen touching $1400 an oz in global markets translating thereby setting a new record in near future.

Coming to international markets, analysts hold the dovish July policy meeting minutes issued this week responsible for the decline in prices.

Interest rate expectations are the driving force behind the recent moves in both the dollar and gold. Expectations of higher interest rates here in the U.S. support a stronger dollar while they weigh on the price of precious metals.

Interest Rate Hike- Gold prices slipped on Friday, weighed down by a strengthening dollar after two Federal Reserve officials' comments that increased expectations for an interest-rate increase this year.


Gold is sensitive to higher rates which lift the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as bullion, while boosting the dollar in which it is priced. The week has seen a run of mixed signals from Federal Reserve policymakers.


San Francisco Fed President John Williams on Thursday joined a growing chorus of his colleagues signalling support for a U.S. interest rate hike in coming months. New York Fed President William Dudley reinforced his confidence in a possible rate hike for a second time in the week.  Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan, however, saw limited room to manoeuvre on rates.

US Dollar- The dollar against a basket of six major currencies was up about 0.27 percent at 94.414. The current ‘ultra low’ interest rate environment has sent global investors on a search for yield.  Hence any prospect of an interest-rate increase in the U.S. makes U.S. dollar investments more attractive to international investors, leading to an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar vs. other currencies across the globe.
The U.S. dollar, after tapping a seven-week low this week, strengthened Friday, cutting demand for precious metals, which are priced in the currency.

SDPR- Among exchange-traded funds, the SPDR Gold Trust GLD, -0.88% was 0.7% lower. Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, fell 0.2% to 955.99 metric tons in the week through Thursday, according to Bloomberg data.
ECB- Meanwhile, European Central Bank rate setters agreed not to discuss any policy change at their July meeting and to keep market hopes for more stimuli in check, minutes showed on Thursday.

U.S. Jobs report- Reports showed the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, while manufacturing activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region saw a mild improvement this month. Members of the Fed's rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee were generally upbeat about the U.S. economy and labour market, but several said any slowdown in future hiring would augur against a near-term rate hike. U.S. economic data will continue to offer clues on the Fed’s next move. Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen will also speak at a conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo. next Friday. Admittedly, a very strong U.S. labour market report in early September could already be enough to prompt the Fed to hike interest rates next month.

Still range bound, gold looks to break through USD $1,360 as the possibility of a September rate rise tempers.

The primary purpose of this article by Mr. Prithviraj Kothari is to educate the masses of the current happenings in the Bullion world.

Previous blog:

"Indian Gold Bullion Market- Issues, Challenges, Opportunities and the way forward: RSBL"
http://riddisiddhibullionsltd.blogspot.in/2016/08/indian-gold-bullion-market-issues_13.html 

MARKETS REMAIN CALM FOR GOLD: RSBL

 By Mr. Prithviraj Kothari, MD, RSBL

Gold showed wave like movements this week. Beginning with a positive tick on Monday, then lowering by the middle of the week and again picking up pace on Friday, it seemed like a see saw trend for gold.

Though gold was up on Monday, it continued to remain under pressure from a Federal Reserve policy meeting that was due on 15-16 December weeks, when the US central bank was expected to raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade. In its last policy meeting of the year on December 15-16, the Fed was seen raising rates by a quarter of a percentage point. 

Gold has already slid 9 percent for the year, its third straight annual decline, in anticipation of a rate hike.

Gold dipped on Thursday morning in the US, with the start of US monetary policy normalization spurring the dollar.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to start to normalize US monetary policy after seven years of near-zero interest rates, lifting the federal funds rate to 0.5 percent from 0.25 percent. The policy board still sees the long-run rate at 3.5 percent and finishing next year around 1.375 percent.

After markets halted to examine the impact of the rise, the dollar gained against other major currencies and pressured the precious metals lower – the greenback was last 0.7 percent stronger at 1.0844 against the euro.

Post the FOMC meet, gold was expected to come under increased downside pressure from a stronger dollar.

Investors will now focus on the pace of future rate rises, which will be affected by the general strength of the economy and underlying inflation data.

In US data, weekly unemployment claims for were in line with forecasts at 271,000 and were below the psychologically important 300,000 mark.

The Philly Fed manufacturing index for December at -5.9 missed the predicted 2.1 while the current account for September at -$124 billion was largely as expected.

While the Fed does not expect to reach its inflation target of two percent until 2018, Chairwoman Janet Yellen said in the following press conference that current transitory factors stem from low oil prices.

After Thursdays decline, the markers expected gold to drop further. But Gold prices jumped in morning trades Friday after the dollar weakened against other currencies and as investors bought back oversold position after prices slumped to over four-month low on Thursday.

Gold prices finally found some support in the weakening dollar index following profit booking and buying at lower level. Prices of the bullion were down as dollar index weakened against other currencies, boosting investors' appetite for dollar-denominated commodities.

Gold was in positive territory on Friday morning in London after the dollar eased slightly amid growing expectations that the path to higher interest rates in the US will be a slow one.

The spot gold price was last at $1,054.9/1,055.2 per ounce, up $2.20 on Thursday’s close. Trade has ranged from $1,051.2 to $1,058.1 so far. In the previous session, the yellow metal dipped below $1,050.

Gold (and silver) rose on Friday, taking back about half of Thursday’s loss of approximately 2.00%.

Reasons behind the price rise were-

• The anxiety in equities restricting from the despair in crude prices
• A changed deliberation of a longer-term view that gold is “due” to rise because of weakening dollar strength
• Hurry to grasp snips.

In the coming days and weeks, the downside in precious metal prices may be limited due to low activity as a result of Christmas and New Year, volatility is expected to remain calm. But the year could start on a negative note for gold. Chairwoman Janet Yellen said future rate increases will be gradual and the policy could be reversed if the US economy begins to slow

In the interim, volumes are expected to shrink while market participants head to the sidelines during the holiday period, possibly resulting in choppy conditions.

The primary purpose of this blog by Prithviraj Kothari - MD, RSBL, is to educate the masses of the current happenings in the Bullion world.

- Previous blog -
"Tricky Week For Gold : RSBL"
http://riddisiddhibullionsltd.blogspot.in/2015/12/tricky-week-for-gold-rsbl.html 

GOLD BOUNCES BACK: RSBL

 By Mr. Prithviraj Kothari,MD, RSBL

Christmas seems to have come in early for gold as it finished the week on a strong note, ending a six-week losing streak and bouncing off a fresh 5 and-a-half year low.

After hitting a 5.5-year low earlier this week, Gold prices prepared to end Friday's session on a very upbeat note, with the metal up 2% during the day.

The magic move happened despite a relatively in-line November jobs report that all strengthened the expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise rates after its monetary policy meeting December 16.

Gold’s rally started in earnest Friday, following the release of November’s nonfarm payrolls report, which was relatively in line with expectations.

Because expectations of a rate hike are close to fully priced into the markets, many investors and traders are starting to doubt whether the U.S. dollar can move higher under current market conditions, prompting them to take profits in their long U.S. dollar positions.

Good news for gold also came in when the Euro rebounded over the announcement of a minimum cut in its deposit rate over the disappointing market by the European Central. The central bank eased its monetary policy, dropping its deposit rate to negative 0.30% from negative 0.20% on Thursday.

The rebound in the euro, following the ECB’s monetary easing that was less than expected, pushed the dollar index down to 97.59, last at 98.30 and that seems to be helping to underpin the metals.

Markets eagerly awaited the US employment report that is likely to be the next directional influence on the dollar and markets generally. 

The gold prices recovered after falling to fresh five-and-a-half year lows during Thursday morning trading after Asian participants reacted to the strong US job data from the previous session.  

Spot gold was indicated $1,053.20/1,053.50 per ounce, down $0.80 from Wednesday and off its session low of $1,046.40, its lowest since February 2010 – market participants largely expect the US FOMC to increase interest rates this month. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, on Friday,  said 211,000 jobs were created in November, down from October’s upwardly revised number of 298,000; September's employment report was also revised higher to 145,000, from the previous report of 137,000. The report noted that 35,000 more jobs were added in the previous two months as a result of the revisions.

According to consensus estimates, economists were expecting to see job gains of 200,000.

Over the past 3 months, job gains have averaged 218,000 per month. As expected the unemployment rate held steady at 5.0% last month; at the same time the participation rate was little changed at 62.5%.

As anticipated the U.S. labor market cooled off a little in November after seeing immense gains in the previous month; however, the job growth still managed to slightly beat outlooks, according to the latest employment data from the Labor Department.

It was one of last few data releases before the Federal Reserve meets in two weeks to decide whether to raise interest rates and these reports will play a significant role for the same.

This raises expectation that the Fed has a go ahead signal to increase interest rates on December 16 as long as other things remain steady globally over the next few weeks.

Yellen has been adamant about raising rates before the year concludes, citing concerns over an expedited tightening cycle if the policy-board waits until 2016.

With another two weeks to go before the Federal Open Market Committee meets to discuss raising rates for the first time since 2006 the market remains focused on the expected positive impact such a move might have on the dollar together with the subsequent negative gold impact. Taking a look at the past four rate hikes we actually find that instead of rising, the dollar has weakened in the weeks and months following the first announcement. 

While this time round may be different considering the expected diverging trajectories of the ECB and FOMC it nevertheless raises the risk of a correction both on dollar longs and gold shorts. Not least considering the big jump in positioning seen in both markets during November.  

The primary purpose of this blog by Prithviraj Kothari - MD, RSBL, is to educate the masses of the current happenings in the Bullion world.

- Previous blog -
"Critical Week For Gold: RSBL"
http://riddisiddhibullionsltd.blogspot.in/2015/11/critical-week-for-gold-rsbl.html