Commodity Prices Have Scope to Rise into the End of Trading Week

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By Ilya Spivak, Currency Strategist 18 May 2012 08: 56 GMT Talking Points

Crude Oil, Copper May Rise Amid Profit-Taking on Risk Aversion Bets Gold and Silver Well-Supported on QE3 Hopes, Eurozone Instability Commodity prices are showing diverging performance in early European trade. Growth-sensitive crude oil prices are following shares lower goal likewise sense-linked copper is essentially flat. Meanwhile, gold and silver are on the upswing, following up on a jump higher in late Wall Street trade after a disappointing set of US economic data seemed to stoke Fed QE3 bets and drive demand for precious metals as an alternative store of value while boosting Treasuries and weighing on the US Dollar.

Looking ahead, a difficult environment presents itself. Risk appetite is under pressure as the aforementioned US data set teeth hopes that an accelerating US recovery will help offset slowing performance in Europe and Asia. Mounting Eurozone crisis woes are compounding the dour mood after Moody's downgrade 16 Spanish banks overnight, stoking fears that lenders in the currency bloc's fourth-largest economy (and possibly elsewhere) may buckle as Greek-born jitters metastasize region-wide.

However, three consecutive weeks of aggressive selling across the spectrum of risky assets may force a period of profit-taking, with traders unlikely to be willing to carry significant directional exposure into the weekend given the degree of uncertainty surrounding the satiation unprecedented in the Eurozone. & S P 500 stock index future have erased overnight losses and now point higher, hinting that correction may be brewing that pulls crude oil and copper higher along with equity prices.

Gold and silver appear likely to remain well-supported however. The current environment plays to the metals' appeal both as inflation hedges (given QE3 speculation) and as assets that don't necessarily rely on financial markets to derived their value, a major advantage at a time when another 2008-style rout is appearing increasingly plausible. In the absence of US economic data, the high - profile Facebook IPO may also prove to be a catalyst to consider.

WTI Crude Oil (NY Close): $92.56 / /-0.25 / /-0.27%

Prices put in back-to-back Spinning Top candlesticks above support at 92.51, the December 16 low, pointing to indecision and hinting a bounce may materialize. Initial resistance lines up at 95.41, the February 2 session low. Alternatively, renewed selling through media statements 90.49.

Daily Chart - Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

Spot Gold (NY Close): $1574.27 / / + 71.48 / / + 2.25%

As we suspected yesterday, prices recovered after putting in a Spinning Top candlestick above support in the 1532 45 - 1522 50 area, marked by the September 26 and December 29 spike lows. Buyers cleared the 23.6% Fibonacci tracing at 1560.98 to challenge the 38.2% level at 1582.10, with a break above that exposing the 1600/oz figure and 1616.23. The 1560.98 has been recast as near-term support.

Daily Chart - Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

Spot Silver (closed NY): $28.04 / / + 0.82 / / + 3.01%

Prices are recovering from support at 27.06 to challenge resistance in the 28 43-70 area marked by a form level support and the underside of a previously broken falling channel set from early March. A break above this barrier statements 29.71. Alternatively, a push through media statements the 26 05-15 region marked by the September 26 and December 29 spike lows.

Daily Chart - Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

COMEX E-Mini Copper (Close NY): $3.480 / / + 0.002 / / + 0.06%

Prices are mounting a shallow recovery after putting in an Inverted Hammer candlestick above support at 3.459, the 50% Fibonacci tracing. Buyers see initial resistance at 3.584, marked by the 38.2% Fib level. Alternatively, a reversal through media statements the 61.8% tracing at 3.334.

Daily Chart - Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

-Written by Ilya Spivak, Currency Strategist for Dailyfx.com

To contact Ilya, e-mail ispivak@dailyfx.com. Follow Ilya on Twitter at @IlyaSpivak

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18 May 2012 08: 56 GMT May, 17 08: 46 GMT Crude Oil, Gold May Recover as Greece Eurozone Exit Fears DigestMay, 16 11: 08 GMT Commodities Sold on Greece Woes May Extend Losses on Fed MinutesMay, 15 10: 40 GMT Gold, Silver Rise as US Dollar Pulls Back After Eurozone GDP DataMay, 14 09: 00 GMT Crude Oil, Gold Sink as Euro Crisis Fears Grip Financial MarketsMay11 08: 58 GMT Commodities Sold as Risk Appetite Unravels, US Data May Cap Losses

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