Analysis Topic: Commodity Markets - Metals, Softs & Oils
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.Friday, February 24, 2012
Commodity prices begin to run / Commodities / Commodities Trading
Commodity and equity prices have trended together for over a decade. However, recently the S&P 500 has bolted away to a 12-month high leaving natural resources to linger in the basement. That disconnect appears to have now changed with commodities quickly playing catch-up to stocks.
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
If Gold Could Talk / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
Jeff Clark, Casey Research
Have you ever had any doubts about gold? Does it sometimes feel like it should be performing better? Are you concerned about its volatility? Do you worry about how it might perform in the future? Have you ever wondered about its true purchasing power? Maybe you're nervous about a big drop in price again? I decided to go directly to the source to address these concerns: Gold himself. He put his arm around me and asked me to tell you a few things…
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Gold Jumps to 3-Month High on Options Expiry / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
The PRICE of PRECIOUS METALS rose further Thursday morning in London, pushing higher from last night's sharp jump in New York, with Dollar-priced gold trading at its highest level since mid-November above $1780 per ounce.
Physical gold holdings backing the giant SPDR Gold Trust last night remained unchanged, however, both from Tuesday's finish and one week ago.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Greece’s Lenders Have The Right To Seize National Gold Reserves / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
Gold’s London AM fix this morning was USD 1,776.50, EUR 1,334.41, and GBP 1,130.45 per ounce.
Yesterday's AM fix was USD 1,754.75, EUR 1,325.04, and GBP 1,116.32 per ounce.
Spot gold hit a 3 month high of $1,781.40/oz yesterday rising for the third day in a row. Gold has consolidated on those gains in Asia and Europe.
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Global Gas Set To Wreak Havoc For The Energy Majors / Commodities / Natural Gas
US energy sector corporations are set to report a major slide in profits - probably the biggest fall since the financial meltdown of 2008-09. This time it wasnt a crash into deep economic recession that cut their earnings, but producing too much gas. The single word "fracking" explains all, as the drilling technique known as fracking implodes US natural gas prices and a frenetic bidding war for shale gas leases and other gas assets locks in producers, even the biggest energy majors into a no-win low price future. Spilling out from the gas subsector, the gas supply bulge's impacts across the energy space are only just compensated by high and firm oil prices. When or if oil prices faltered, the financial situation for the energy majors will not be comfortable.
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Miners Saving the Silver Price? / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
In another look at the silver market, Will Bancroft takes a look at Eric Sprott’s call to silver miners in November 2011. Have the suppliers of silver bullion to the market taken heed? Are the miners reclaiming the silver price? Read on to see how Mr Sprott’s call has been received, whether the miners are rethinking their precious product.
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Gold and Silver Get A Technical Boost on Greek Bailout Plan / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
Trading action in silver and gold were confined to a range as the Greek drama over obtaining the second €130 billion bailout from the so-called troika, IMF/EU/ECB continued. Even though the austerity measures — which were a condition for the loan — were approved in the Greek parliament on February 14th, the EU now wants to exercise more scrutiny before extending the money.Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Do Central Banks Care More About the Dow or Gold? / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly climbed above 13,000, its highest level since May 2008. Many rejoiced at the psychological milestone as the index has nearly doubled from March 2009 lows. Central banks around the world have flooded the financial system with liquidity in an effort to stave off a deepening financial crisis. As a result, asset prices on stocks and commodities have surged in recent years. However, investors should pay closer attention to relative performance and the increasing demand for gold by central banks.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
New Greek Crisis is Biggest Risk for Gold / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
U.S. DOLLAR gold prices held steady just off $1760 an ounce during Wednesday morning trading in London, after a rally in Tuesday's US session saw gold climb 1.3%.
Silver prices softened slightly but held above $34 per ounce – having through that level on Tuesday following the Greek bailout announcement. Stocks and commodities edged lower this morning, while government bond prices gained.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Commodities have Broken Out to the Upside / Commodities / Commodities Trading
With Greece in the rearview mirror, investors turned their attention to the risk on trades. The CRB index painted a clear breakout from its consolidation over the past few weeks. This breakout has been confirmed in silver, gold, oil and copper.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Crude Oil vs. Iran: Who Blinks First? / Commodities / Crude Oil
Oil futures spiked more than 2% in one day to their highest level in nine months on Tuesday Feb. 21. WTI front month contract closed at $105.84, while Brent ended at $121.66 on ICE, primarily on investors fear of potential conflict over the escalating tensions between the US, Europe, Israel, and Iran. A second Greek bailout deal of €130bn (£110bn; $170bn) also helped to inject some optimism into the market (which would seem totally mis-placed as we may need to relive this Greek drama in two years). Nevertheless, the fact remains crude oil market supply and demand has not changed a bit to warrant a 2%+ price jump in one day.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The Long-Term Fundamental Case for Gold / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
“No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.”
~ United States Constitution, Excerpt from Article 1, Section 10 ~
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The Enduring Popularity of Gold / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
The World Gold Council (WGC) reaffirmed the power of the Love Trade in its 2011 Gold Demand Trends report released this week. Gold demand grew 0.4 percent in 2011 despite a 28 percent year-over-year increase in bullion’s average price.After flirting with the top spot for some time, China emerged as the world’s largest gold market for jewelry and investment during the fourth quarter of 2011 as demand in India weakened. This is the first time China’s demand outpaced India’s in 11 quarters. However, India did retain the gold demand crown for the entire year, purchasing 933 tons compared to China’s demand of 770 tons.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Credit Crisis Bailouts Benefitting Gold, Silver, Uranium And Rare Earth Miners / Commodities / Commodities Trading
The Chinese Ideographs for crisis is a two edged sword. One blade is pointed upward to forecast opportunity, the other symbol is pointed downward to signify danger. The short term deflationary crisis in 2011 provided a unique opportunity to buy undervalued miners at historic bargain basement prices.
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Ben Graham’s Curse on Gold / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
This week we have a shorter Outside the Box, from my friend David Galland at Casey Research, with an interesting insight into why gold can be considered as a poor investment by some rather influential investors (like Warren Buffett) while others may see it as the core of a diversified portfolio. As usual when I use someone's material for an OTB, I include a link at the end, if you want to look deeper. The rather large team at Casey Research specializes in gold, natural resources, and energy-related investments, for those with such an investing bent.
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Will the Greek Bailout Make Gold, Silver Rise or Fall? / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
Some investors may feel that the Eurozone debt crisis has been resolved by the bailout from the other E.U. members. Whether it has or has not, is irrelevant to the price of gold, or is it?
There are still hurdles in the way, such as the acceptance by private Greek Bondholders of the 53% haircut and low interest rates they will get until 2015. But let's assume the best and believe they'll accept the terms. The first market reactions were to move up and hold new levels without any effervescence in any market. The moves had largely been discounted already. Yes, we're seeing a shift of money from the U.S. Treasury market to the euro but not in large amounts yet. In this piece we look at the overall prospects for the precious metals.
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Gold Rises on Continuing Greece Default Threat Despite Greece Bailout Agreement / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
U.S. DOLLAR gold bullion prices spiked to $1747 an ounce Tuesday lunchtime in London – a 1.3% gain on last week's close – as US Markets re-opened to the news that European finance leaders have agreed to bail out Greece.
Silver bullion also spiked, hitting $33.97 per ounce – 1.9% up on the start of the week.
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Gold Rises on Greece Debt Deal: "Kicking Giant Beer Keg Down Road Risks Destroying The Road" / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
Gold’s London AM fix this morning was USD 1,737.00, EUR 1,313.12, and GBP 1,097.98 per ounce.
Yesterday's AM fix was USD 1,729.50, EUR 1,307.36, and GBP 1,090.82 per ounce.
Gold rose to its highest in a week today after euro zone policymakers sealed an agreement for a second debt deal with Greece. Gold remained flat at $1,736/oz in Asian trading after the deal was reached but then saw some buying which saw gold quickly rise to $1,740/oz and then creep up to over $1,743/oz.
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Buffet Mischaracterizes Gold’s Bull Market / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
Once again, someone famous and once again Warren Buffet is dismissing Gold. In comparing it to the bubbles in housing and Internet stocks, he feels he’ll ultimately be vindicated. In his annual letter to shareholders, Buffet trashed Gold as a bubble that is being driven by fear of other asset classes. He believes that those who buy today only do so because they believe the “ranks of the fearful will grow.”
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Gold and Silver Stocks' Wild Ride Ahead / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2012
Greg McCoach, publisher of The Mining Speculator, feels gold is ultimately headed above $6,000/oz and silver into the hundreds of dollars and those who aren't paying attention now are missing their best opportunity to buy before the frenzy begins in earnest. In this exclusive interview with The Gold Report, he spells out the reasons for his optimistic projections and shares several of his favorite stories in the junior mining sector, which he believes is headed for much higher ground.
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