Can Spot Gold Break Above $1370.00?

Over the last 6-months, the price of Spot Gold has been capped just below the $1370.00 level three times.

With the current price around $1350, the question now is: will Gold be capped again, or will it break over $1370 and head higher?

Looking at Friday’s Commitment of Traders report offers an interesting perspective. The numbers show that the speculators are long and the commercial accounts are very short.

As a rule, since the commercial accounts actually hold the Gold, they are more likely to cover their short exposure quickly.

As such, we see a growing likelihood that Spot Gold will trade back over $1370 for the first time since July 2016, over the medium-term.

This extension of the recent rally will lift local mining names such as NCM, SBM, EVN and SAR.

Newcrest Mining

Santa Barbara

Evolution Mining

 

 

Newcrest Firms As Spot Gold Continues to Climb

As global markets become more concerned about the impact of US tariffs and the escalation of trade disputes, the price of Spot Gold has firmed back to the $1340 level in late NY trade.

Our preferred local gold stock to buy is Newcrest, which has recovered smartly from the $21.20 low last week to reach $22.20 in early trade today.

The correlation between Spot Gold and NCM has been around 70% over the last 6-months.

As such, we would expect a break of the $1350 level in the spot price to correspond to just under $23.00 for NCM.

Newcrest was added to our Top 50 Model portfolio on December 13th at $22.10.

Newcrest Mining

 

Newcrest Posts Steady Q2 Production

The production numbers announced by NCM were broadly inline with market expectations and the correlation with Spot Gold remains intact.

The mining giant reported Q2 gold production of 613,000 ounces, which is a 17% increase quarter-on-quarter. The cost of production slipped slightly to US 830.00 per ounce.

We added NCM to our Top 50 Model Portfolio on December 13th at $22.10.

Technically, the share price remains tightly correlated to the price of Spot Gold.

As such, we estimate that investors will be able to buy NCM at $22.00 if the price of Spot Gold drifts back to $1320.00

Newcrest Mining

Spot Gold

XJO Update: Miners Lead The Index Lower

The ASX XJO Index fell 1.1% for the week and traded below the 6000 level for the first time this year.

Mining stocks and the major banks led the downside following weakness in commodity prices.

The ASX Gold index dropped four sessions in a row and lost 1.3% on Friday to close at 4874.60.

Iron Ore prices posted their first weekly loss in over a month, which pressured shares of mining giants BHP and RIO Tinto lower for the week.

Shares of RIO fell 4.6% to $78.00 while  BHP slipped 3.7% to end the week at $30.70

Internal momentum indicators are looking fairly neutral on the daily charts, which suggest the index could see range trading next week between 6070 and 5985.

XJO Index

 

Gold Slips Lower In Brisk NY Trade

After posting a 5-month low of $1238 on December 12th, Gold prices rallied over $100 to peak at $1345 on January 15th.

The yellow metal traded as low as $1324 in yesterday’s New York session, which suggests the technical correction is likely to extend the downside range.

We see the next significant chart point at $1309 but wouldn’t rule out a test of the $1292 area over the near-term.

On a longer-term horizon, we are bullish on Gold and will look to buy shares in the domestic Gold producers at lower levels.

On January 4th, we flagged the potential for a bearish correction and suggested that investors take profits in Newcrest mining near the $23.30 area.

NCN reports its Quarterly Production numbers on January 30th. It’s reasonable to expect shares of NCM, as well as the smaller producers, to closely follow the spot price of Gold into these production reports.

We added NCM to our ASX Top 50 model portfolio on December 13th at $22.10. We will look to buy back into the sector as the correction in spot Gold runs its course.

Newcrest mining

 

 

 

Perth Mint Gold Sales Double In September

The Perth Mint reported sales of 46,415 ounces of Gold during the month of September. This is more than double the 23,130 ounces sold in August.

The Perth mint refines over 90% of newly-mined Gold in Australia and ships to investors world-wide.

As illustrated in the chart below, this trend in higher demand could indicate higher Spot Gold prices in coming months.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, Gold has rallied after the Chinese Golden week for the last four years.

This year, the yellow metal has traded $25.00 higher since the Chinese market has been back online and is now over $1300.00 per ounce.

At this point the local Gold mining names haven’t rallied in the same percentage terms as spot Gold. However, we consider this price lag to be temporary and to see higher share prices in the near-term.

Perth Mint Gold Coin Sales

Gold Trades Higher After Golden Week

A few weeks ago, we posted a report outlining the correlation between the Chinese Golden week holiday and the price of spot Gold.

Over the last four years, the price of Gold has dropped into, and during, Golden Week and then traded higher once the Chinese markets came back online.

As the chart below illustrates, spot Gold posted a low of $1262.00 last Friday and has since lifted by over $30.00.

We continue to look for Gold to trade higher into the end of the year and re-test the the $1350.00 level.

As such, we like long positions in NCM, EVN and SAR

Spot Gold

 

Newcrest Mining

Evolution

Saracen

Newcrest Goes Ex-Dividend Today

Shares of Newcrest are trading lower in early trade as the company went ex-dividend today.

Shareholders will be paid a 9.5 cent dividend, fully-franked, which we expect to increase over the next 6-month period.

The share price has found good buying support in the $22.00 area in recent sessions and we consider the $21.80 to $22.00 levels a reasonable buy zone.

In addition, we have noticed a “higher low” pattern in Evolution Mining (EVN). Our ALGO engine has not yet triggered a buy signal and we will update when that happens.

With a positive base case for spot gold moving higher, we would look for the domestic gold mining sector to improve into year end.

Newcrest Mining

Evolution Mining

Gold Continues To Climb

Gold posted a low of $1204.50 on July 10th. Since then, the yellow metal has rallied over 5% and hit an intra-day high of $1270.70 in last night’s New York trade.

This marks the 3rd straight week of higher prices and internal momentum indicators are now pointing to the June high of $1295.75.

However, share prices of local gold miners NCM and EVN have not reflected this stronger trade in the spot Gold price.

Both NCM and EVN announced positive quarterly production numbers last week, and we expect both names will break out their recent ranges on the topside.

Over the medium-term, we have price targets of $22.10 for NCM and $2.60 for EVN.Gold

Newcrest.

Evolution Mining

Has Gold Found A Bottom?

The Spot Gold price hit a high of $1290.00 on April 17th. Over the last two weeks, the price has dropped over 5% to close just over $1227.00 in late NY trade.

During the same time, the share price of Newcrest Mining has dropped over 20% from $25.30 to $20.10 at Friday’s ASX close.

The closure of the Cadia mine has had a multiplying effect on the share price; which was already feeling the pressure of lower spot gold prices.

The daily chart patterns in both Gold and Newcrest are showing technically oversold conditions. At current prices, we consider both assets good value for a medium-term reversion trade to $1260 and $22.75, respectfully.  Newcrest