COMMODITIES: Spot Gold Advances 1.3% to Initial Resistance

Jul-21 18:05
  • Both Brent and WTI futures sit moderately lower on Monday, although both are comfortably off session lows. Continued focus for global markets remains on US trade talks ahead of the August 1 tariff deadlines, amid EU preparations of countermeasures. Signs of a potential Russia-Ukraine meeting may have provided a headwind for oil prices, though tight diesel markets lent some support later in the session.
  • Russia and Ukraine may hold talks on Wednesday or Thursday, according to various media reports. Trump has given Putin a 50-day deadline to reach a peace agreement.
  • A bearish tone in WTI futures remains intact and the recovery since Jun 24 is considered corrective. The sharp reversal from the Jun 23 high continues to highlight scope for an extension lower. Support to watch is the 50-day EMA, at $65.68.
  • Elsewhere broad dollar weakness has been led by a bull flattening move for US treasuries, providing solid support for precious metals.
  • According to TD Securities, macro funds have begun buying back their previously built short positions in gold, and there remains strong belief that gold can rise further as trade negotiations continuing, policy rate cuts, a stagflationary environment and challenges to central bank credibility provide a supportive backdrop.
  • Today’s solid 1.3% advance for spot gold has exposed $3395.1, the Jun 23 high, and the next upside target is located at $3451.3, the Jun 16 high. Note that medium-term trend conditions are bullish - moving average studies are in a bull-mode position highlighting a dominant uptrend.

Historical bullets

USDCAD TECHS: Corrective Cycle

Jun-20 20:00
  • RES 4: 1.4111 High Apr 4
  • RES 3: 1.4016 High May 12 and 13 and a key resistance 
  • RES 2: 1.3832/1.3920 50-day EMA / High May 21 
  • RES 1: 1.3747 High Jun 19
  • PRICE: 1.3733 @ 16:23 BST Jun 20
  • SUP 1: 1.3540/3521 Low Jun 16 / 1.0% 10-dma envelope
  • SUP 2: 1.3503 1.618 proj of the Feb 3 - 14 - Mar 4 price swing
  • SUP 3: 1.3473 Low Oct 2 2024
  • SUP 4: 1.3410 1.764 proj of the Feb 3 - 14 - Mar 4 price swing

The trend needle in USDCAD points south and this week’s recovery is considered corrective. Resistance at the 20-day EMA, at 1.3710, has been pierced. A continuation higher would signal scope for a stronger retracement and expose pivot resistance at the 50-day EMA, at 1.3832. For bears, a  reversal lower and a resumption of the downtrend would pave the way for an extension towards 1.3521, envelope-based support. 

LOOK AHEAD: Next Week's Key US Data Releases

Jun-20 20:00

US data is headlined by Thursday’s Q1 GDP revisions and Friday’s PCE report for May although there are plenty of other releases that will be watched with interest throughout the week. 

  • Q1 GDP data will be “stale”, especially being a third release, but it will nevertheless help the Fed assess whether its previous view on the economy is playing out. Recall that Powell at the May FOMC press conference said he expected consumption and inventories to have increased more strongly than first reported in the flash release. Last month’s second release showed that only partly played out, with inventories revised even higher but consumption revised down from 1.8% to 1.2%. Nevertheless, Powell at Wednesday’s June FOMC press conference still described the downward revised 2.5% for PDFP as “solid”.
  • The May PCE report should be more impactful for clues on latest consumer momentum amidst strong income growth. Retail sales saw the largest monthly drop since March 2023 although the closely-watched control group was stronger than expected. As for inflation metrics, core PCE is seen around 0.15% M/M in May judging by unrounded estimates after the usual CPI, PPI and import price inputs, after 0.12% M/M in April.  
  • As for the other releases to watch, Monday’s preliminary June PMIs will give timely updates on wider activity after Empire and Philly Fed manufacturing surveys remained in contractionary territory. We also expect greater than usual focus on housing data (existing home sales Mon, new home sales Wed) after what have been some troubling releases across both construction and sentiment. Tuesday then sees the Conference Board consumer survey for an alternative look at the improvement since the de-escalation in trade policy before Wednesday’s advance trade data for the latest post tariff front-running update. 

US TSYS: Tsys Narrow/Higher Range, Trump Been "Speaking to Iran"

Jun-20 19:53
  • Treasuries look to finish higher Friday, top half of narrow range. Early risk-on tone followed unscheduled comments from Fed Governor Waller on the possibility of a rate cut in July and headlines that Iran was ready to discuss limitations on uranium enrichment plans.
  • No market reaction to late Pres Trump comments to reporters & social media posts: "WILL MAKE TRADE DEAL WITH INDIA, PAKISTAN," "BEEN SPEAKING TO IRAN," "IRAN WANTS TO SPEAK TO US, NOT EUROPE" - Bbg posts. Trump adds Europe is not going to help with Iran, nor will China; Trump "might" support Israel/Iran ceasefire
  • The price details of the Philly Fed manufacturing survey for June showed a pullback from elevated rates for both prices paid and prices received in the current period. Six-month ahead expectations for prices paid pushed higher again though, and at 68.9 is getting closer to the high of 77.8 from Jan 2022, although prices received isn’t quite as relatively elevated.
  • Tsy Sep'25 10Y futures trades +5 at 110-30.5 vs. 111-03 high, remains below key resistance and its recent high of 111-14+, a Fibonacci retracement and the Jun 5 high. Clearance of this hurdle would be bullish and highlight a stronger reversal. This would open 111-30, a Fibonacci retracement.
  • Curves steeper, 2s10s +2.611 at 47.137, 5s30s +3.530 at 93.143. 10Y yield at 4.3791% vs. 4.3593% low. Projected rate cut pricing back to 50bp by December.
  • Cross asset: Stocks mixed (DJIA +29.34 at 42,202.0, SPX eminis -20.75 at 6013.5), Gold mildly lower at 3365.05, Bbg US$ index little firmer at 1210.80 +1.10.