Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Gold prices firmer, while base metals consolidate

Otmane El Rhazi from The Bullion Desk.

The base metals are consolidating this morning after a strong run higher last week, on average prices are off 0.5 percent led by a one percent pullback in copper to $6,363. Conversely precious metals are stronger by an average of 1.4 percent led by 1.9 percent gains in silver and platinum, while gold is up 0.9 percent at $1,188.50 and that is despite a firmer dollar.

In Shanghai, the July base metals contracts are off an average of 0.2 percent, with only nickel and copper stronger, while the rest are weaker. Copper is up 0.4 percent at Rmb 45,630, while spot copper in Changjiang is up 0.2 percent at Rmb 45,750-46,000, the backwardation with the futures is at an equivalent of some $60 percent tonne, while the LME/Shanghai copper arb ratio is at around 1 to 7.16.

Gold in Shanghai is little changed at Rmb 239.25, but silver is up one percent at Rmb 3,585.

Equities were firmer yesterday with the Euro Stoxx 50 up 0.5 percent and the Dow up 0.3 percent, but Asia is considerably weaker with the Hang Seng off 1.8 percent and the CSI down 3.7 percent.

Currencies the dollar index is rebounding, last at 95.76 after a low of 94.39, the euro is pulling back, last at 1.1098, sterling is at 1.5111 as the pound weakens ahead of the general election, the aussie is last at 0.7865, the yen is at 120.15, the rouble is at 52.05 and the yuan is at 6.2052. The RBA cut interest rates by 25 basis points.

The economic agenda was busy yesterday with the HSBC final reading of manufacturing PMI falling to 48.9, Spanish (54.2), Italian (53.8), French (48), German (52.1) and EU (52.0) manufacturing PMIs were mixed, with France falling further behind, while Italy has strengthened. Today’s agenda includes Spanish unemployment claims, UK construction PMI, EU economic forecast, EU PPI and US data includes the trade balance, final services PMI, ISM non-manufacturing PMI and the IBD/TIPP economic optimism reading – see table below for more details.

The base metals are consolidating this morning after the long weekend and after some strong gains of late it does look like prices may pull-back as the market adjusts to these higher levels – this is especially so if the dollar continues to rebound. The likes of lead and zinc look particularly vulnerable to a correction.

The precious metals found some support yesterday, but whether they can continue to rebound in light of the stronger dollar remains to be seen. Generally it does look as though the lower prices of late have attracted scale down buying so on balance we would look for more range trading. 

 

Overnight Performance      
BST 07:27 +/- +/- % Lots
Cu 6363 -61.5 -1.0% 3264
Al 1903 -10 -0.5% 1120
Ni 13740 -10 -0.1% 1989
Zn 2330.5 -17.5 -0.7% 1311
Pb 2105 -14 -0.7% 416
Sn 16000 -50 -0.3% 5
Steel  395 0 0.0% Total
  Average (BM ex-Steel) -0.5% 8,105
Gold 1188.5 10.8 0.9%  
Silver 16.42 0.3 1.9%  
Platinum 1147.8 21.8 1.9%  
Palladium 777.9 6.9 0.9%  
  Average PM   1.4%  

 

SHFE prices 07:34  BST Change % Change
Cu 45630 160 0.4%
AL  13370 -45 -0.3%
Zn 17075 -105 -0.6%
Pb 13780 -65 -0.5%
Ni 107160 160 0.1%
Sn 118350 -480 -0.4%
Average change (base metals)     -0.2%
Rebar 2351 24 1.0%
Au 239.25 0.1 0.0%
Ag 3585 34 1.0%

 

    Economic Agenda      
BST Country Data ACTUAL Expected Previous
Monday China HSBC Final Manufacturing PMI 48.9 49.4 49.2
Monday Spain Spanish Manufacturing PMI 54.2 54.6 54.3
Monday Italy Italian Manufacturing PMI 53.8 53.4 53.3
Monday France French Final Manufacturing PMI 48 48.4 48.4
Monday Germany German Final Manufacturing PMI 52.1 51.9 51.9
Monday EU  Final Manufacturing PMI 52 51.9 51.9
Monday EU Sentix Investor Confidence 19.6 19.5 20
Monday US  Factory Orders m/m 2.1% 2.1% -0.1%
2:30am Aus Trade Balance -1.32B -0.98B -1.61B
5:30am Aus Cash Rate 2.0% 2.0% 2.25%
7:45am France French Gov Budget Balance -26.3B   -23.4B
 8:00am Spain Spanish Unemployment Change   -64.8K -60.2K
9:30am UK Construction PMI   57.6 57.8
10:00am EU  EU Economic Forecasts      
10:00am EU PPI m/m   0.3% 0.5%
1:30pm US  Trade Balance   -41.2B -35.4B
2:45pm US  Final Services PMI   57.8 57.8
3:00pm US  ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI   56.2 56.5
3:00pm US  IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism   50.6 51.3

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