GOLD: Gold Range Trading Ahead Of Friday’s Payrolls, Fed Speak Later
After rising moderately on Wednesday, gold is slightly lower during today’s APAC session. It is down 0.1% to $3368.4 off the intraday high of $3384.18 as it continues to trade below initial resistance at $3392.2, 3 June high. US yields and the greenback are slightly higher, while equities in the region are generally stronger.
- Bullion is set to remain highly sensitive to trade and geopolitical developments, with current issues remaining unresolved.
- It rose on the back of disappointing US data yesterday and will be monitoring May payrolls on Friday closely for signs of recent uncertainty impacting the labour market. 126k new jobs are expected with the unemployment rate steady at 4.2%. An undershoot may increase expectations of Fed cuts in 2025, thus boosting gold prices.
- Geopolitical and trade tensions as well as concern about the greenback appear to be prompting an increase in central bank buying of gold for their reserves, especially by China, according to Bloomberg.
- Equities are mainly higher with the Hang Seng up 0.4% and KOSPI +1.0% but Nikkei is down 0.5% and the S&P e-mini flat. Commodities are generally lower with WTI -0.4% to $62.59/bbl, iron ore down to around $95/t, silver -0.1% to $34.47 but copper slightly higher.
- Later the Fed’s Kugler, Harker & Schmid as well as BoE’s Greene & Breeden speak. The ECB is expected to cut rates 25bp and the decision will be followed by President Lagarde’s press conference. US jobless claims, May Challenger job cuts, April trade & final Q1 productivity/ULC, and April German factory orders & euro area PPI print.
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BOBL TECHS: (M5) Pierces The 20-Day EMA
- RES 4: 120.20 High Dec 12 ‘24 (cont)
- RES 3: 120.000 Psychological round number
- RES 2: 119.960 High Apr 7 and the bull trigger
- RES 1: 119.780 High Apr 22
- PRICE: 119.150 @ 05:32 BST May 6
- SUP 1: 119.010 Low May 5
- SUP 2: 118.647 50-day EMA
- SUP 3: 118.060 Low Apr 10
- SUP 4: 117.680 Low Apr 9 and a key support
A bull cycle in Bobl futures remains in play and the recent steep sell-off between Apr 7 - 9 is considered corrective. Gains in early April rally resulted in a break of key resistance at 119.040, the Feb 28 high, strengthening bullish conditions. Sights are on the 120.000 handle next. On the downside, firm support lies at 117.680, the Apr 9 low. The 20-day EMA, an important S/T support, at 119.088, has been pierced. The 50-day EMA is at 118.647.
ASIA STOCKS: China Shares Up Post Holidays.
In their first trading day back post the five day Labour Day holidays, China’s major bourses all rose as expectations that the US trade war could ease. The equity gains are after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s said the US could see some “substantial progress in the coming weeks” in trade talks with China and President Donald Trump‘s suggesting that said he is willing to lower tariffs on China at some point.
- China’s Shenzhen Composite lead the way as the index rose +1.90% whilst Shanghai and CSI 300 were up +0.95%. The Hang Seng was strong today also rising +0.65%.
- The FTSE Malay KLCI fell -0.33% today following on from yesterday’s fall of -0.19% leaving the index down over 6% year to date.
- The Jakarta Composites good run continues rising +0.95% following yesterday's gains of -0.19% to leave it down just -2.5% year to date
- The FTSE Straits Times rose a modest +% whilst the PSEi in the Philippines climbed +0.75%.
- India’s NIFTY 50 is down -0.25% in the morning trade following on from yesterday’s rise of +0.47% on trade deal optimism. Year to date the NIFTY 50 is up over 3% setting it apart from its regional peers.
THAILAND: Core At Bottom Of Band As Headline Goes Negative
Core CPI inflation printed at the bottom of the Bank of Thailand’s 1-3% target band in April. It rose a stronger-than-expected 1.0% y/y from 0.9%. This measure is likely to be the focus with headline impacted by government subsidies as well as lower vegetable and global oil prices. It fell to -0.2% y/y from +0.8% y/y in March, weaker than expected. After cutting rates in both February and April, further monetary easing is likely this year.
Thailand CPI y/y%
- The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is concerned about the impact of US trade policy on Thailand, especially if there isn’t a deal to reduce the proposed 36% tariff. Also, the stand-off between China and the US could put downward pressure on Thai inflation if China reduces prices to find other markets.
- The government expects inflation to stay negative in May. BoT expects headline inflation at 0.2% to 0.5% in 2025 and was revised down due to lower oil prices and government policy.
- Energy prices were down 6.7% y/y in April after -0.9% y/y as the state subsidised fuel and global oil prices fell sharply over the last few months with WTI almost 18% lower in April. Core inflation excludes private road transport and accommodation costs and so is not impacted by these factors.
- Food prices rose 1.6% y/y in April but down from 2.35% with eggs & vegetables declining over the year helped by increased supply.
