Friday, 3 November 2017

BASE METALS RETRACTION AFTER CLIMBING RECENT PEAKS



Precious metals prices had mixed movements today. With Gold opening higher and Silver opening flat, the bullions moved downwards during the first half of the trading session. After a slight downward move, the prices were a stable for a while awaiting the rate decision from the Bank of England. BoE was expected to raise its benchmark interest rates after 10 years, and a rate hike was already factored-in in the markets. The BoE raised its rates by 25 basis points to 0.50%. However, the post meeting comments by the BoE Governor, Mark Carney, were quite dovish. He mentioned that a rate hike in this meeting does not mean that another rate hike is imminent. The markets reacted to his statements and the bullions rose on these dovish comments. However, the overall outlook on bullions is still bearish. With the dollar index looking to extend its gains, the pressure on precious metal prices continues. However, we can see some short covering in the coming sessions.

Crude Oil prices traded in a very narrow range in yesterday’s session. It seems the prices are consolidating after scaling fresh highs this week. The U.S. crude oil prices came within 2 cents of their 2017 high and then plunged after a disappointing weekly report on American stockpiles, output and exports. Even though the trend shows that the prolonged global glut of crude has come to an end, at these levels, prices are also susceptible to disappointing data points and profit booking by traders to cash in on their short term gains. The longer term outlook remains bullish though. Technically, WTI just posted a "golden cross," a technical formation that occurs when an asset's shorter-term moving average crosses over its longer-term moving average. In this case, crude oil's 50-day moving average crossed over its 200-day moving average. This is an indication of a strong bullish momentum

Base metals prices retreated after rising swiftly for two trading sessions. The prices pulled back across the board on Thursday as traders cashed in gains after nickel posted its biggest two- day jump in more than three years, zinc hit its highest in a decade and aluminum matched last week's five-year peak. Nickel surged on Tuesday and Wednesday on expectations that demand would be boosted by a rise in electric car buying, while zinc hit its highest since August 2007 on deficit expectations. However, it’s going to be a long time before electric vehicles make a material impact on Nickel demand. So it seems a pullback in prices is on the cards.


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