Introduction
As the US dollar strength has taken another enormous leg higher, assets are wilting across major markets. This is even impacting gold. The yellow metal has lost its safe-haven appeal (at least for now) and is succumbing to pressure being exerted by the huge USD strength. Until the USD stops strengthening, the outlook for gold will remain negative.
- Gold is holding up better than most commodities, especially metals.
- Gold is trading alongside major currencies
- However, as the USD continues to strengthen the outlook for Gold will be negative.
- A breakdown on gold below $1784/$1786 support has opened a test of $1750 key support.
Gold is performing well against commodities but in line against forex
Although gold has fallen by around -2% today, looking at the performance over recent months, it is seen as something of a safe haven trade, especially in the commodities space. Looking at relative performance charts of gold versus other commodities in the past three months, we see an asset that has been a low volatility asset which is performing well amongst a group of underperforming metals (oil is acting as a standalone now).
Copper is in the process of falling hard, whilst silver continues to trade like gold but on steroids. In a falling market, gold can still hold up relatively well as a store of value.
However, it seems that for a more direct comparison, we need to look more at the forex space. Gold rises and falls with major forex. It can almost be described as trading like a currency versus the dollar.
Gold negatively correlated to the USD
One of the key reasons why the chart of Gold trading is closely aligned with moves on major forex is that its negative correlation with the USD is particularly strong right now. On a 12-month period, the average correlation is -0.27. However, this also includes an 8-week period just after the breakout of war in Ukraine when the USD and gold were both benefitting from being safe-haven assets.
Since the end of April, a more traditional negative correlation has resumed. It is very rare that gold and the USD are not negatively correlated. We can also see that moving into July, the correlation is increasingly strongly negative, close to -0.8 (-1.0 is the perfect negative correlation).
This would suggest that the stronger the USD gets in this bull run, the further the gold price will fall.
In the months to come, possibly closer to the end of 2022, the outlook of USD strength may begin to correct. This is likely to be as the timing for Fed rate cuts gets closer and the message from the Fed turns less hawkish. A correction in the USD would likely be a driving factor behind a gold rally. However, for now, the outlook for the USD remains strong and therefore is corrective for gold.
Technicals show key support at $1750 to be tested
We have seen a sharp move lower on gold today. A clean break of the support at $1784 has taken Gold (XAUUSD) to its lowest level since December 2021. This brings gold deep into a band of support from $1752/$1786. Given the confirmation of negative momentum on the RSI, a test of the $1752 December 2021 low is now likely.
The question is of how this breakdown impacts the trading strategy. We believe that this accelerating move has been developing in recent sessions, to culminate in this breakdown. However, we are cautious of chasing the move much lower from here. The RSI is at 30 and is looking historically stretched. This may induce a near-term pullback within the four-month downtrend.
We would be looking for a failed technical rally, potentially in the overhead supply of $1784/$1805 area to look for selling opportunities. The downtrend comes in around $1830 and any move that helps to unwind the stretched RSI towards 40/45 would likely be something that induces further chances to sell. A move above $1840/$1845 resistance would be needed to sustainably improve the outlook again.
This material is for general information purposes only and is not intended as (and should not be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. INFINOX is not authorised to provide investment advice. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by INFINOX or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.
