Nell Sloane's daily comments
Monday Apr 11
GOLD: With the Dollar breaking out to the downside, it is not surprising that gold has come alive again. However, in order to manage a true breakout, June gold will have to manage a rise above $430.5 and manage to hold above critical support of $428.4. Apparently the gold market is capable of discounting the potential negatives off the IMF gold sale effort and that is mostly because of the consistent declines in the Dollar. It would seem like the US is against the sale but that issue certainly has the ability to limit the gold market, especially in its current marginally bullish setup. The weekly COT report with Options showed the Large Trader to be holding a net long position of 118,016 contracts, which is up 3,247 from the previous report. The Small Speculator position was down 3,675 contracts for a total net long position of 31,301 contracts. Therefore, the net spec and fund long in gold is roughly 149,000 contracts, which is only a moderately overbought condition. With US Trade numbers due out on Tuesday, we suspect that even more Dollar declines are ahead and that could give June gold the chance to rise above the late March consolidation high of $431.4 but with significant overhead resistance coming off the bottom of the early March chart formation around $432.5, the gold market could have a difficult task forging big gains this week. In short, the market has an upward bias but will need some significant from the fundamental front in order to entice broad based buying.
SILVER: The silver market would appear to be poised to rise toward the critical pivot point of $7.25 but like gold, silver also has significant overhead resistance off the bottom of the February and March consolidation pattern. Fortunately silver wasn't overly spec long, as the April 5th Commitment of Traders with Options report showed the Large Trader to be holding a net long position of 35,300 contracts, which is up 1,621 from the previous report. The Small Speculator position was down 1,293 contracts for a total net long position of 23,650 contracts. Therefore, the Spec and fund long position was only 47,000 contracts long and that is an average long for the recent trade. Critical pivot point support comes in this week at $7.112 and thin resistance is seen at $7.225.
METALS TECHNICAL OUTLOOK 4/11/2005
SILVER (MAY) 04/11/2005: The market now above the 60-day moving average suggests the longer-term trend has turned up. Momentum studies are rising from mid-range, which could accelerate a move higher if resistance levels are penetrated. The market now above the 18-day moving average suggests the longer-term trend has turned up. The daily closing price reversal up on the daily chart is somewhat positive. With the close over the 1st swing resistance number, the market is in a moderately positive position. The near-term upside target is at 728.0. The next area of resistance is around 724.0 and 728.0, while 1st support hits today at 709.1 and below there at 698.1.
GOLD (APR) 04/11/2005: Rising from oversold levels, daily momentum studies would support higher prices, especially on a close above resistance. The major trend has turned down with the cross over back below the 18-day moving average. The upside closing price reversal on the daily chart is somewhat bullish. It is a slightly negative indicator that the close was under the swing pivot. The next upside objective is 428.9. The next area of resistance is around 428.1 and 428.9, while 1st support hits today at 425.7 and below there at 424.0.