The shiny yellow rock is like the Sybil of the investment world. It has at least seven personalities. Some see it as an inflation hedge. Others a currency. Some see it as a fear gauge and still others see it as a luxury retail item.
So which is it? All of these and then some. And that is what can make it interesting as a trading vehicle. Let’s see what the charts are saying about this nugget. The daily chart is making news so let’s start there. The chart below shows a pullback to the 200 day Simple Moving Average (SMA) for the first time since late August. This comes with the shorter 20 and 50 day SMA’s rolling over and price on the way back from a double top at 1800.
The falling and bearish Relative Strength Index (RSI) and negative Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator (MACD) both support a continued move lower. A lower low from a lower high signals at least caution but watch for a break of that 200 day SMA to open it to lower support at 1640 and 1620 followed by 1600. Moving out to the weekly view shows the 50 week SMA splitting a neutral channel between 1550 and 1800. It also has a RSI that is pointing lower as it is making a new lower low and heading towards bearish territory and a negative MACD supporting that case. It is still early in the week, but watch the volume as it has been declining on this pullback.
Should it continue, then it raises thoughts of a slowing and reversal. A move below 1660 on this view triggers a target of 1520, on the break of the descending triangle. A bias lower on this timeframe but not as gruesome as the daily.
This is getting complicated. If it falls under the trigger at 1660 this month, then there is support at 1550 and then nothing until 1500 and 1420. from there it can get ugly. A 50% retracement of the 12 year up movement for example is at 1089 but lets not get ahead of ourselves.
In summary, the 12 year uptrend in Gold looks to be in jeopardy for the first time. The key levels to watch that could lead to a cascade lower are 1640-1660 followed by 1550.
-Umesh Shanmugam(Purely my view)