Prospect Of Further Global Monetary Easing Renews Gold Bull Run

 | Jul 03, 2019 09:23

Market Overview

The feeling of hope that came in the immediate wake of the G20 summit has dissipated quickly. Whilst President Trump talks about trade negotiations resuming with China, markets seem to be increasingly sceptical.

Perhaps there will be a resolution in the long term, but the economic data is painting an increasingly gloomy picture in the here and now. PMIs, which are forward looking growth indicators, continue to deteriorate, whilst central banks look increasingly cautious.

The Bank of England seemed to be somehow holding on to the hope of rate hikes, if only Brexit were to be done in an orderly fashion. However, Governor Carny struck a dovish tone yesterday over his outlook for the global economy and a no deal Brexit scenario, leading to the potential need for further stimulus.

Markets took that as yet another signal for concern and another leg of retreat back into the safety of the yen, government debt and of course gold. Add in that emergence of Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF and seen as a monetary policy dove, who has been chosen to be the replacement for outgoing ECB President Draghi, and the prospect for upside on gold (and renewed negative pressure on the euro) just took another shot in the arm. Loretta Mester’s non dovish comments (she is a non-voting hawk on the FOMC) seem to have done little to change the narrative.

Focus today comes with the services PMIs and if they also take a turn for the (even) worse, then expect further yen strength, yields tumble and gold breaking to new multi-year highs.

Wall Street closed with a decent gain last night with the S&P 500 +0.3% at 2973. However, US futures are slipping by -0.1% and Asian markets have been cautiously negative with the Nikkei -0.5% and Shanghai Composite -1.0%. In Europe there is more of a mixed open in prospect, with DAX futures flat, but FTSE futures adding +0.2%.

In forex, three is a continuation of moves that formed yesterday. JPY strengthening on risk aversion, whilst GBP weakness following terrible PMIs and Carney’s dovish lean continues.

In commodities the run higher on gold extended early in the session and although remains higher on the day, it is $10 off the earlier highs. Oil has managed to muster some sort of support after the huge decline yesterday, but the bulls are yet to decisively return.

On a busy day for the economic calendar, the services PMIs take key focus today. The Eurozone final Services PMI for June is at 09:00 BST and is expected to be unrevised from the 53.4 at the flash (53.4 flash, 52.9 in May), with the Eurozone final Composite PMI holding at 52.1 (52.1 flash, 51.8 in May).

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The UK Services PMI for June is expected to remain at 51.0 (51.0 in May) which takes on added importance in the wake of such disappointing reading on Manufacturing and Construction PMIs. The US Employment change for June is at 13:15 BST and is expected to improve to +140,000 (from +27,000 in May).

The US Trade Balance for May is at 13:30 BST and is expected to see the deficit widen further to -$54.0bn (from -$50.0bn in April). Weekly Jobless Claims have been brought forward a day due to the Independence Day public holiday on Thursday and are expected to improve slightly to 223,000 (from 227,000 last week).

The US ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI is at 15:00 BST and is expected to slip slightly to 55.9 in June (from 56.9 in May). The US Factory Orders at 1500BST are expected to decline by -0.5% for the month of May (-0.8% in April). Finally, the EIA crude oil inventories are at 1530BST and are expected to show another inventory drawdown of -2.5m barrels (-12.8m barrels last week).

Chart of the Day – EUR/JPY

As the recent rally has rolled over, momentum is building for renewed downside once more. Throughout 2019 there has been a key pivot band between 123.35/123.75, which has played as a band of resistance for the past seven weeks. It played a role in restricting the market in both May and then June. With a couple of bear candles coming since Monday’s bull failure at 123.35, the downside momentum is growing again. This comes with a sell signal on Stochastics and RSI back under 50. Given the MACD lines are also losing traction under neutral, suggesting near term rallies are still a chance to sell, this look to be renewed selling pressure forming. There has now also been a breach of initial support at 121.65 and a retreat back to 120.75 looks increasingly on now. The hourly chart has taken on an increasingly negative momentum configuration, with near term resistance 122.15/122.50 a sell-zone now.