- by Mr.Prithviraj Kothari,MD,RSBL(RiddiSiddhi Bullions Ltd.)
It's been a dreadful week for gold. The yellow metal is down almost 3%, the most in any week since late March.
I have repeatedly been making a point that gold prices are being pulled by the bullish and bearish factors and it has been moving on a see saw as we get a positive growth report from US on one hand and escalating Ukraine crisis on the other.
Finally the strong resistance of $1280 gave up. On Wednesday, Gold prices fell to a near 4-month low as easing Ukraine crisis paved way in the market. But gold prices bounced off these levels after data showed that the U.S. economy contracted in the 1st quarter for the first time in three years. The US Commerce Department approximated that GDP dropped in the 1st quarter. Economists held severe weather conditions responsible for this.
On the other hand, the US Labour Department report showed application for jobless benefits declined last week which reduced the safe haven appeal for Gold as the market is now moving their focus to riskier assets like equities that have given better returns than gold in the past year,
Finally the strong resistance of $1280 gave up. On Wednesday, Gold prices fell to a near 4-month low as easing Ukraine crisis paved way in the market. But gold prices bounced off these levels after data showed that the U.S. economy contracted in the 1st quarter for the first time in three years. The US Commerce Department approximated that GDP dropped in the 1st quarter. Economists held severe weather conditions responsible for this.
On the other hand, the US Labour Department report showed application for jobless benefits declined last week which reduced the safe haven appeal for Gold as the market is now moving their focus to riskier assets like equities that have given better returns than gold in the past year,
At each dip there are more people exiting the markets than entering.
In 2013, we saw gold moving in exorbitant quantities from West to East. Last year China overcame India as the world's top gold importer and gold jewellery and investment demand, rising to a record 1,065.8 tons. Most of that sold gold ended up in China and India and other growing gold consuming nations in Asia led by Vietnam and Indonesia.
But in the first quarter of 2014, that demand tanked. Mainland China's demand for gold fell 18% in the first quarter of the year as investors bought fewer bars and coins, offsetting record demand for jewellery.
India's bars and coins buying also showed a huge drop-off of 54% to 98 tonnes and with jewellery consumption also sliding overall gold demand on the subcontinent slid 26%.
One of the most important ongoing news was about the Major metal exchanges emerged as contenders in developing an alternative to the London silver price benchmark, or "fix", after the century-old system for setting the globally recognized price is disbanded in August. The major exchanges CME and LME both said on Thursday that they were working with LBMA and the precious metals industry to find an electronic-based solution.
Meanwhile, expectations remain high that a strong US economic data report might support the Fed's policy of scaling back its bullion friendly stimulus.
The market will now be glued to the ECB meeting that will be held next week when the bank might take further steps to ease its monetary policy and enhance growth.
Gold remains 5% to the upside for 2014 but is down $120 an ounce from highs reached mid-March as the rally on the back of safe haven demand and bargain hunting loses steam.
Further for the week gold is expected to be in the range of $1238-$1273 in the international market and Rs.26,000 - Rs.27,800 in the domestic market.
While silver is expected to move in the range of $18.15 - $18.85 and Rs. 38,500- Rs.41,00 in the international and domestic markets respectively.
The primary purpose of this article by Mr. Prithviraj Kothari is to educate the masses of the current happenings in the Bullion world.
- Previous blog -
"Gold Investors be Cautious"
-http://www.riddisiddhibullionsltd.blogspot.in/2014/05/gold-investors-be-cautious-mr.html
