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Crude Oil Steady Ahead of U.S. Holiday, Gold Bounces off Technical Support

By DailyFX January 16, 2011, 06:56:57 PM EDT

Commodities - Energy

Crude Oil Steady Ahead of U.S. Holiday

Crude Oil (WTI) - $91.07 // $0.33 // 0.36%

Commentary: Crude oil is little changed in overnight trade as volume is light heading into the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday. There will be no settle until Tuesday's session when pit trading resumes, but electronic trade remains open. WTI is holding above $91, while Brent holds just under $99.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is tentatively scheduled to be restarted later today, according to operator Alyeska. Approximately 95% of Alaska's 600,000bbl/d of production was shut-in due to a leak in the line.

Technical Outlook: Prices have put in a bearish Dark Cloud Cover candlestick after retesting support-turned-resistance at rising trend line set from the swing bottom in November, hinting the upward correction has run its course and a move lower is ahead. Initial support lines up at $87.33.

Commodities - Metals

Gold Bounces off Technical Support

Gold - $13 66 .00 // $3. 78 // 0.2 8 %

Commentary: Gold is rebounding after testing support near $1360 yet again. As we stated in our latest Gold - FOREX Correlations report , in order to see a sustainable decline in gold prices, we would need to see a meaningful reduction in investment demand for the metal. Preliminary signs of such a reduction are emerging. Gold ETF holdings have plunged 1.2 million troy ounces since peaking near 68 million troy ounces back in December. They are now at the lowest level since September, when gold was trading at prices more than $100 lower than they are now. Keep in mind, however, that this is by no means the largest drawdown in holdings during gold's 10-year bull run. For instance, we saw a drawdown in excess of over 3 million troy ounces during 2008 (incidentally, there was a big gold price correction during part of that year).

Technical Outlook: Prices followed a Bearish Engulfing candlestick pattern below resistance at $1388.38, the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the 1/3-1/7 downswing, with a break through support at a rising trend line set from late October. Final confirmation of a larger bearish reversal requires a daily close below $1361.39, an outcome that would clear the way for a decline to the $1325-30 region.

Silver - $28. 55 // $0. 07 // 0. 23 %

Commentary: Silver is little changed and seems to be following price action in gold. ETF holdings have been more or less flat during the last few months.

The gold/silver ratio rebounded to 47.8, remaining above the four-year low near 46 set last month. (The gold/silver ratio measures the relative value/performance of the two precious metals. A higher ratio indicates gold outperformance, while a lower ratio indicates silver outperformance)

Technical Outlook: Prices reversed sharply lower at the $30.00 figure, dropping back to horizontal support at $28.32. A daily close below this level exposes $26.71. The $30.00 level remains as near-term resistance.

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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.


This article appears in: Investing, Commodities

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