Have gold prices (NYSE: GLD, Bullboard) stopped responding to the weakness in the dollar? Lately, it certainly would appear so. Let's notice that since mid-March, the euro actually has carved out a "rising wedge" pattern, which depicts a series of horizontal rally peaks (around 1.59.00/85 juxtaposed against a series of rising pullback lows), which are putting upward pressure to thrust the euro above 1.6000 into new all-time high territory. Conversely, we have gold prices ignoring the still-bullish pattern in the euro/dollar, and instead, in the grasp of a downside correction that points towards additional weakness beneath the April 1 low at $872 on the way to $850/$820. Why the divergent action?
My suspicion: that gold prices are ... anticipating 1) a peak in euro/dollar in the days ahead, and 2) that at the next FOMC meeting on April 30, the Fed indicates that it has cut enough to stimulate aggregate demand, and that it is concerned about inflation, which will warn the markets that the current rate cut cycle is complete – and that the next Fed action will be to RAISE Fed funds. If any of my suspicions are on the mark, then both gold and the euro are going to (will) anticipate the shift in the direction of rates in the upcoming days.
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