GOLD: Gold to Consolidate this Week

Apr-27 22:29
  • Compared to recent weeks, gold had a very modest week last week finishing down by a mere -0.21%.
  • Up over 25% year to date on trade war concerns, gold is one of the best performing assets in what is proving to be a volatile start to the year.
  • Reaching a new all-time high of US$3,423.98 this month, gold has surged through most predictions at the beginning of the year.
  • Gold starts the trading week this week in Asia at $3,319.72
  • Key central banks globally have reported increases to their gold reserves, boosting demand for the precious commodity.
  • Data out from the CFTC last Friday showed that Hedge Funds have reduced the number of their gold longs to the lowest level in one year indicating that the rally for now may be stalled.
  • For now, all major moving averages are pointing upwards:  a sign that the bullish momentum remains in place but with the CFTC positioning data, it is possible we could see a modest week for gold should trade war headlines not dominate. 

Historical bullets

USDCAD TECHS: Bullish Outlook

Mar-28 21:00
  • RES 4: 1.4700 Round number resistance
  • RES 3: 1.4641 76.4% retracement of the Feb 3 - 14 bear leg
  • RES 2: 1.4452/4543 High Mar 13 / 4 and a bull trigger
  • RES 1: 1.4402 High Mar 20 
  • PRICE: 1.4292 @ 16:50 GMT Mar 28
  • SUP 1: 1.4235 Low Mar 26 and a key near-term support   
  • SUP 2: 1.4151/4107 Low Feb 14 / 50.0% of Sep 25 - Feb 3 bull run
  • SUP 3: 1.4011 Low Dec 5 ‘24
  • SUP 4: 1.3944 61.8% retracement of the Sep 25 ‘24 - Feb 3 bull cycle

USDCAD traded through support at 1.4242 on Wednesday but has recovered. A return lower and clearance of this level would undermine the bull theme and instead highlight potential for a test of 1.4151, the Feb 14 low and a bear trigger. Moving average studies continue to highlight a dominant uptrend. A reversal higher would refocus attention on the bull trigger at 1.4543, the Mar 4 high. First resistance is 1.4402, the Mar 20 high.      

US FISCAL: Debt Limit "Extraordinary Measures" Pick Up, But Cash Dipping Pre-Tax

Mar-28 20:42

Treasury data shows that there were $207B of "extraordinary measures" available to circumvent hitting the debt limit as of Wednesday Mar 26. 

  • That's the most since Jan 27th and up from $163B a week earlier, from a total $376B available.
  • However, Treasury cash in the TGA fell to $316B as of the 26th (and was down to $280B on Thursday), meaning there were a combined $523B of resources available to avert the debt limit, the lowest since the impasse began in January (and half of the starting amount of just over $1T).
  • The next couple of weeks will be very important for Treasury, as they represent the biggest tax  take of the year. The Congressional Budget Office reported this week that per its estimates "if the debt limit [$36.1T] remains unchanged, the government's ability to borrow using extraordinary measures will probably be exhausted in August or September 2025." Treasury wrote to Congress this month that they would be able  to provide an update on the x-date in the first half of May, after the conclusion of tax season.
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AUDUSD TECHS: Remains Above Support

Mar-28 20:30
  • RES 4: 0.6429 High Dec 12 ‘24
  • RES 3: 0.6414 38.2% retracement of the Sep 30 ‘24 - Feb 3 bear leg              
  • RES 2: 0.6409 High Feb 21 and a bull trigger 
  • RES 1: 0.6391 High Mar 17 / 18 
  • PRICE: 0.6291 @ 16:46 GMT Mar 28
  • SUP 1: 0.6258 Low Mar 21
  • SUP 2: 0.6187 Low Feb 4
  • SUP 3: 0.6171/6088 Low Feb 4 / 3 and a key support
  • SUP 4: 0.6045 1.500 proj of the Sep 30 - Nov 6 - 7 price swing

AUDUSD is unchanged. A short-term bull theme is intact and the latest move down appears corrective. Key short-term support to watch is 0.6187, the Mar 4 low. Clearance of this level would reinstate a bear threat. First support is at 0.6258, the Mar 21 low. A stronger recovery would refocus attention on 0.6409, the Feb 21 high. Clearance of this hurdle would strengthen the bull cycle and resume the uptrend that started Feb 3.