Metals

Archive for Metals – Page 6

Is Gold Ready To Outshine Stocks?

John Newell of John Newell & Associates explains how you can decode the Dow Gold ratio to understand better which asset, stock, or gold is outperforming the other.

The Dow Gold ratio is one of the most insightful tools for understanding the relationship between stock markets and gold, particularly in times of financial upheaval.

By comparing the price of the Dow Jones Industrial Average to the price of gold, this ratio helps investors gauge which asset, stock, or gold (which has historically been considered money) is outperforming the other.

Today, the ratio is calculated by dividing the Dow at ~42,000 by the gold price at ~ $2,600, equating to approximately 16.15 ounces of gold to buy one Dow share.

A high ratio indicates that stocks are expensive relative to gold, while a low ratio suggests that gold is more highly valued compared to stocks. Throughout history, this ratio has fluctuated dramatically, marking pivotal moments in the global financial landscape.

Key Moments in the Dow Gold Ratio

1971: 25:1

At the beginning of 1971, it took roughly 25 ounces of gold to purchase a single share of the Dow. This was a period when stocks had outpaced the performance of gold for years, reflecting a broad belief in the strength of financial markets and economic growth. However, the U.S. was on the verge of significant changes in monetary policy.

1974: 3:1

Just a few years later, by 1974, the ratio plummeted to 3 ounces of gold for each Dow share. The rapid devaluation of stocks relative to gold occurred as inflation surged and economic uncertainty took hold, particularly after the U.S. abandoned the gold standard in 1971. Investors flocked to gold as a hedge against inflation, causing gold’s value to soar.

Late 1970s: 10:1

Following this sharp decline, the Dow Gold ratio staged a partial recovery, rallying to 10:1 in the late 1970s. However, inflationary pressures and economic instability persisted, preventing a full recovery and keeping gold as a preferred asset for wealth preservation.

1980: 1:1

By 1980, the ratio dropped to its lowest point in history — 1:1. This meant that one ounce of gold could buy one Dow share. This dramatic shift came at the peak of economic uncertainty, runaway inflation, and soaring interest rates. Gold had become the ultimate safe haven, while stocks were seen as highly volatile and risky.

2000: ~45:1

The long bull market in stocks that began in the 1980s pushed the Dow Gold ratio to an astonishing 45:1 by the year 2000. This period was marked by technological innovation, economic growth, and low inflation, driving stocks to outperform gold significantly. Gold was out of favor, seen as a relic in a time of booming stock markets and rapid technological advancements.

2011: 6:1

After the financial crisis of 2008, gold surged once again as investors sought safety amidst economic turmoil. By 2011, the ratio had corrected back to 6:1, reflecting a significant loss of confidence in the global financial system, while gold regained its stature as a store of value.

Today: ~16:1

Currently, the Dow Gold ratio sits at approximately 16:1. The market has rebounded significantly since the lows of 2011, but we believe that these markets could be entering another period where gold starts to outpace stocks.

What’s Next? Could We See a Return to 6:1 or Even 1:1?

As the saying goes, “History doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes.”

Looking at past cycles, it’s clear that the Dow Gold ratio tends to revert toward certain key levels during times of economic stress and uncertainty. If “past is prologue,” the charts suggest that we may be heading back toward a 6:1 ratio and possibly even another ~ 1:1 scenario, as we saw in 1933 and 1980

Several factors support this thesis:

Global Inflation and Monetary Policy: Inflation is again a significant concern for investors, with central banks worldwide continuing to grapple with rising prices. Historically, periods of high inflation have favored gold over stocks as investors seek to preserve their purchasing power.
Geopolitical Instability: The ongoing geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and economic uncertainty are causing shifts in global financial markets. Gold traditionally performs well in these environments, as it is seen as a safe-haven asset.
Debasement of Fiat Currencies: With massive debt levels and aggressive monetary stimulus measures, fiat currencies are losing value relative to hard assets like gold. As more central banks move toward looser monetary policies, gold’s relative strength is likely to increase, pushing the Dow Gold ratio lower.
Investor Sentiment: While stocks have performed well over the last decade, there are growing concerns about valuations, especially in tech-heavy indices like the Dow. A correction or a prolonged period of stagnation in stock markets could further tilt the ratio in gold’s favor.

The Big Picture Dow / Gold Ratio Chart

Conclusion: The Dow Gold Ratio and the Case for Gold

The Dow Gold ratio has been a reliable barometer of market sentiment and economic conditions for decades. It tells a story of booms, busts, and the cyclical nature of markets.

If history is any indication, we may be on the cusp of another significant move in favor of gold. The current ratio of 16:1 is far from the extremes we’ve seen in the past, and we believe that a return to 6:1 is possible in the near future.

In more extreme cases, we could even see a return to the historic 1:1 ratio, as the chart shows is possible, because it happened before in 1933 and 1980.

For investors seeking protection against economic uncertainty and inflation, the Dow Gold ratio offers a compelling case for gold as a valuable part of any diversified portfolio.

Important Disclosures:

Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports, Street Smart, or their officers. The author is wholly responsible for the accuracy of the statements. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Any disclosures from the author can be found below. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.
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John Newell Disclaimer

As always it is important to note that investing in precious metals like silver carries risks, and market conditions can change violently with shock and awe tactics, that we have seen over the past 20 years. Before making any investment decisions, it’s advisable consult with a financial advisor if needed. Also the practice of conducting thorough research and to consider your investment goals and risk tolerance.

Metals Opinions

23 Sep

Gold Reaches New Record as Investors Eye Further Rate Cuts

By RoboForex Analytical Department

Gold prices soared to a new all-time high, with the troy ounce surpassing 2614 USD. This surge is primarily driven by expectations of additional interest rate cuts and ongoing geopolitical tensions, which enhance gold’s appeal as a safe-haven asset.

Following the US Federal Reserve’s decision last week to reduce its interest rate by 50 basis points – the first such cut in four years – the market expects an equivalent reduction by the year’s end. This week, attention is focused on upcoming US macroeconomic releases, including the Core PCE report and personal income and expenditures data. These indicators will provide insights into the potential direction of future Fed rate adjustments.

Gold becomes increasingly attractive as an investment during periods of lower lending costs, which typically lead to reduced yields on government bonds and a lower Dollar Index (DXY). Unlike other assets, gold does not generate coupon income, making it more appealing when other yields decline.

Additionally, the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Gaza has further boosted demand for gold. In times of heightened global uncertainty and conflict, gold traditionally performs well as a defensive investment.

Despite some strengthening of the US dollar, this has not significantly impacted the upward trajectory of gold prices.

Technical analysis of gold (XAU/USD)

Gold has broken through the resistance at 2611.00 USD and is now targeting 2672.00 USD. Upon reaching this level, a corrective movement back to 2611.00 USD may occur, followed by another growth phase targeting 2750.00 USD. The MACD indicator supports this bullish outlook, with the signal line well above zero and ascending sharply.

The H1 chart shows that gold has reached 2611.00 USD and is now consolidating around this level. The consolidation range is defined between 2603.00 USD and 2625.25 USD. A breakout above 2625.25 USD would likely lead to a continuation of the upward momentum towards 2672.00 USD, confirming the ongoing bullish trend. This scenario is corroborated by the Stochastic oscillator, with its signal line progressing towards 80, indicating sustained upward momentum.

Disclaimer

Any forecasts contained herein are based on the author’s particular opinion. This analysis may not be treated as trading advice. RoboForex bears no responsibility for trading results based on trading recommendations and reviews contained herein.

Financial News Metals

21 Sep

COT Metals Charts: Speculator Bets led by Gold, Silver & Platinum

By InvestMacro

Here are the latest charts and statistics for the Commitment of Traders (COT) data published by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The latest COT data is updated through Tuesday September 17th and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial entities) were positioned in the futures markets.

Weekly Speculator Changes led by Gold, Silver & Platinum

The COT metals markets speculator bets were higher this week as five out of the six metals markets we cover had higher positioning while the other one markets had lower speculator contracts.

Leading the gains for the metals was Gold (27,565 contracts) with Silver (13,556 contracts), Platinum (11,975 contracts), Copper (6,870 contracts) and with Palladium (3,988 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The market with a decrease was Steel with a shortfall by -346 contracts on the week.

Metals Net Speculators Leaderboard

Legend: Weekly Speculators Change | Speculators Current Net Position | Speculators Strength Score compared to last 3-Years (0-100 range)

Strength Scores led by Gold & Silver

COT Strength Scores (a normalized measure of Speculator positions over a 3-Year range, from 0 to 100 where above 80 is Extreme-Bullish and below 20 is Extreme-Bearish) showed that Gold (100 percent) and Silver (96 percent) lead the metals markets this week. Steel (81 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, Palladium (51 percent) comes in at the lowest strength level currently.

Strength Statistics:
Gold (100.0 percent) vs Gold previous week (89.3 percent)
Silver (96.3 percent) vs Silver previous week (77.9 percent)
Copper (51.6 percent) vs Copper previous week (45.2 percent)
Platinum (76.7 percent) vs Platinum previous week (44.7 percent)
Palladium (50.7 percent) vs Palladium previous week (21.4 percent)
Steel (81.3 percent) vs Palladium previous week (82.7 percent)

Palladium & Platinum top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Palladium (46 percent) and Platinum (31 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for metals. Gold (28 percent) is the next highest positive mover in the latest trends data.

Copper (0 percent) is the lowest trend score currently.

Move Statistics:
Gold (27.6 percent) vs Gold previous week (13.9 percent)
Silver (12.5 percent) vs Silver previous week (-5.8 percent)
Copper (0.1 percent) vs Copper previous week (-10.9 percent)
Platinum (31.2 percent) vs Platinum previous week (-11.5 percent)
Palladium (45.8 percent) vs Palladium previous week (15.4 percent)
Steel (7.5 percent) vs Steel previous week (8.8 percent)

Individual Markets:

Gold Comex Futures:

The Gold Comex Futures large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 310,066 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 27,565 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 282,501 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 100.0 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 0.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 61.4 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Gold Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	68.8	13.9	9.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	11.1	76.2	5.2
– Net Position:	310,066	-335,127	25,061
– Gross Longs:	369,734	74,647	52,976
– Gross Shorts:	59,668	409,774	27,915
– Long to Short Ratio:	6.2 to 1	0.2 to 1	1.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	100.0	0.0	61.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish-Extreme	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	27.6	-24.2	-18.8

Silver Comex Futures:

The Silver Comex Futures large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 58,298 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 13,556 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 44,742 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 96.3 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 8.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 62.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Silver Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	53.3	20.0	20.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	11.9	75.0	7.1
– Net Position:	58,298	-77,306	19,008
– Gross Longs:	74,978	28,131	29,005
– Gross Shorts:	16,680	105,437	9,997
– Long to Short Ratio:	4.5 to 1	0.3 to 1	2.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	96.3	8.3	62.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish-Extreme	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	12.5	-8.5	-7.5

Copper Grade #1 Futures:

The Copper Grade #1 Futures large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 19,682 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 6,870 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 12,812 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 51.6 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 48.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 53.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Copper Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	38.7	34.4	8.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	29.1	46.9	5.9
– Net Position:	19,682	-25,602	5,920
– Gross Longs:	79,235	70,413	17,898
– Gross Shorts:	59,553	96,015	11,978
– Long to Short Ratio:	1.3 to 1	0.7 to 1	1.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	51.6	48.4	53.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	0.1	2.3	-16.7

Platinum Futures:

The Platinum Futures large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 21,978 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 11,975 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 10,003 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 76.7 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 19.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 42.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Platinum Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	53.9	24.0	11.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	26.2	58.2	5.3
– Net Position:	21,978	-27,031	5,053
– Gross Longs:	42,679	19,028	9,283
– Gross Shorts:	20,701	46,059	4,230
– Long to Short Ratio:	2.1 to 1	0.4 to 1	2.2 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	76.7	19.5	42.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish-Extreme	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	31.2	-29.6	-9.1

Palladium Futures:

The Palladium Futures large speculator standing this week reached a net position of -7,000 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 3,988 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -10,988 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 50.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 55.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 22.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Palladium Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	27.3	58.7	9.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	64.7	20.1	11.1
– Net Position:	-7,000	7,226	-226
– Gross Longs:	5,102	10,983	1,853
– Gross Shorts:	12,102	3,757	2,079
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.4 to 1	2.9 to 1	0.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	50.7	55.5	22.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bullish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	45.8	-34.6	-66.9

Steel Futures Futures:

The Steel Futures large speculator standing this week reached a net position of -3,923 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -346 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -3,577 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 81.3 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 19.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 46.4 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Steel Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	15.1	72.4	1.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	30.7	57.3	1.0
– Net Position:	-3,923	3,795	128
– Gross Longs:	3,807	18,213	376
– Gross Shorts:	7,730	14,418	248
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.5 to 1	1.3 to 1	1.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	81.3	19.1	46.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish-Extreme	Bearish-Extreme	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	7.5	-8.4	24.2

Article By InvestMacro – Receive our weekly COT Newsletter

*COT Report: The COT data, released weekly to the public each Friday, is updated through the most recent Tuesday (data is 3 days old) and shows a quick view of how large speculators or non-commercials (for-profit traders) were positioned in the futures markets.

The CFTC categorizes trader positions according to commercial hedgers (traders who use futures contracts for hedging as part of the business), non-commercials (large traders who speculate to realize trading profits) and nonreportable traders (usually small traders/speculators) as well as their open interest (contracts open in the market at time of reporting). See CFTC criteria here.

COT Updates Financial News Metals

17 Sep

Gold (XAUUSD) Holds Near Record Highs Amid Anticipation of Fed Rate Cut

By RoboForex Analytical Department

Gold prices remained stable at around $2580 per troy ounce on Tuesday, hovering close to their record highs. This resilience in the gold market is largely driven by the weakening US dollar and heightened expectations for a substantial interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

Current projections from the CME FedWatch tool indicate a 67% likelihood of a 50 basis point cut in today’s Fed meeting, a significant increase from the 40% chance noted yesterday. Additionally, there’s a 33% probability of a more modest 25 basis point reduction. These expectations have significantly influenced market sentiment, prompting investors to flock to gold as a protective asset.

Recent geopolitical events, such as the attempted assassination of US presidential candidate Donald Trump, have also underscored the metal’s appeal as a safe haven, leading to a spike in demand during times of perceived instability.

The potential easing of US monetary policy, expected to be confirmed in Wednesday’s Fed announcement, further bolsters gold’s attractiveness. With its lack of coupon income, gold becomes more appealing during periods when yields on US government bonds are falling, and the Dollar Index (DXY) is weakening.

Technical analysis of Gold (XAU/USD)

Gold broke through the consolidation range at 2530.00 and executed a growth wave up to 2586.00. The market has now reached the expansion potential of this range and is forming a new consolidation zone at these highs. The primary expectation is for a downward move to 2555.50, potentially extending into a corrective phase towards 2530.00. The MACD indicator supports this scenario, showing signal lines above zero but starting a downward trajectory, indicating the potential for a forthcoming decline.

On the H1 chart, gold reached up to 2588.88 and is currently consolidating just below this peak. A break below this consolidation could lead to a move down to 2555.50. Conversely, a break above could briefly push prices towards 2600.00 before a potential reversal to 2530.00. The Stochastic oscillator, with its signal line below 50 and pointing sharply downward towards 20, corroborates this expected downward movement.

Disclaimer

Financial News Metals

14 Sep

COT Metals Charts: Speculator Bets led by Platinum

By InvestMacro

Here are the latest charts and statistics for the Commitment of Traders (COT) data published by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The latest COT data is updated through Tuesday September 10th and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial entities) were positioned in the futures markets.

Weekly Speculator Changes led by Platinum

The COT metals markets speculator bets were mixed this week as three out of the six metals markets we cover had higher positioning while the other three markets had lower speculator contracts.

Leading the gains for the metals was Platinum (8,615 contracts) with Palladium (645 contracts) and Steel (155 contracts) also having positive weeks.

The markets with declines in speculator bets for the week were Gold (-5,057 contracts), Silver (-1,317 contracts) and with Copper (-149 contracts) also recording lower bets on the week.

Metals Net Speculators Leaderboard

Legend: Weekly Speculators Change | Speculators Current Net Position | Speculators Strength Score compared to last 3-Years (0-100 range)

Strength Scores led by Gold & Steel

COT Strength Scores (a normalized measure of Speculator positions over a 3-Year range, from 0 to 100 where above 80 is Extreme-Bullish and below 20 is Extreme-Bearish) showed that Gold (95 percent) and Steel (83 percent) lead the metals markets this week. Silver (78 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, Palladium (21 percent) comes in at the lowest strength level currently. The next lowest strength scores are Platinum (45 percent) and Copper (45 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Gold (95.1 percent) vs Gold previous week (97.2 percent)
Silver (77.9 percent) vs Silver previous week (79.7 percent)
Copper (45.2 percent) vs Copper previous week (45.3 percent)
Platinum (44.7 percent) vs Platinum previous week (21.7 percent)
Palladium (21.4 percent) vs Palladium previous week (16.7 percent)
Steel (82.7 percent) vs Palladium previous week (82.1 percent)

Gold & Palladium top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Gold (15 percent) and Palladium (15 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for metals. Steel (9 percent) is the next highest positive mover in the latest trends data.

Platinum (-12 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with Copper (-11 percent) as the next market with lower trend scores.

Move Statistics:
Gold (14.8 percent) vs Gold previous week (6.0 percent)
Silver (-5.8 percent) vs Silver previous week (-7.2 percent)
Copper (-10.9 percent) vs Copper previous week (-27.2 percent)
Platinum (-11.5 percent) vs Platinum previous week (-28.9 percent)
Palladium (15.4 percent) vs Palladium previous week (4.6 percent)
Steel (8.8 percent) vs Steel previous week (10.2 percent)