Gold and silver prices ended last week 3.75% and 2.53%, respectively below their initial starting point. This week there several important events that could impact precious metals prices including on Friday, U.S non-farm payroll report and on Thursday the ECB rate decision. Currently gold and silver prices are falling. Today U.S. ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI monthly update will be published and U.S Factory Orders.
Here is a short analysis on gold and silver for Monday, March 5th:
Gold and Silver– March Update
Gold price slightly declined on Friday by 0.72% to $1,709.8; silver even more than gold traded down by 3.19% to $34.53. During the week, gold declined by 3.75% and silver by 2.53%.
The chart below presents the developments of gold and silver during the last couple of weeks (prices are normalized to February 16th).
The ratio between gold and silver rose during Friday, and reached 49.52. During the week the ratio declined by 1.25% as silver has moderately outperformed gold. In the chart below are the changes in this ratio during February and March.
On Today’s Agenda
U.S. ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI: This report will present the developments in the non-manufacturing sector during February 2012. During January this index moderately rose to 56.8%; this index may affect the strength of US dollar (see here the recent report);
U.S Factory Orders: According to the previous flash report, during January new orders of manufactured durable goods slipped by $8.6 billion to $206.1 billion;
Forex / Gold & Silver Market – March
The Euro/U.S Dollar declined on Friday by 0.85% to 1.3198. During the week Euro/U.S Dollar decreased by 1.87%; on the other hand, the Australian dollar appreciated against the U.S. dollar by 0.85%. Since these two currencies are historically linked with the movement of gold and silver prices; if the Euro and Australian dollar will trade down during the day; it could indicate that gold and silver prices will follow and also decline. Currently, the Euro/USD is falling.
Current Gold and Silver Prices March 5th
Gold (April 2012 delivery) is traded at $1,696.3 per t oz. a $13.5 or 0.79% decrease as of 07:20*.
Silver (April 2012 delivery) is at $34.11 per t oz – a $0.415 or 1.2% decrease as of 07:20*.
(* GMT)
Gold and Silver Daily Estimate
Due to the sharp movements of gold and silver prices during last week, they have both ended up below their initial starting point, During the upcoming week two main events might stir up the metals markets: the ECB rate decision and the U.S. non-farm payroll report. The recent decision of ECB to implement the nearly €530 billion LTRO fund, which will provide loans to struggling EU banks may continue to affect the Euro/USD and consequently the direction of gold and silver prices. The debt crisis in Greece may also stir up the markets if there will be big headlines from this front. Finally, the upcoming reports regarding non-manufacturing PMI and factory orders could trade down gold and silver prices if these reports will be positive and strengthen the US dollar.
Here is a reminder of the top events and reports that are planed for today and tomorrow (all times GMT):
Today
15:00 – U.S. ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI
15:00 – U.S Factory Orders
Tomorrow
10:00– Revised Euro Area GDP 4Q2011
2:30 – Australian GDP Fourth Quarter 2011
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