The ranges
of estimates are important in terms of market reaction because when the actual
data deviates from the expectations, it creates a surprise effect. Another
important input in market’s reaction is the distribution of forecasts.

In fact,
although we can have a range of estimates, most forecasts might be clustered on
the upper bound of the range, so even if the data comes out inside the range of
estimates but on the lower bound of the range, it can still create a surprise
effect.

Distribution
of forecasts for PPI

PPI Y/Y

• 1.8%
  (4%)
• 1.7%
  (29%)
• 1.6%
  (48%) – consensus
• 1.5% (19%)

PPI M/M

• 0.2%
  (10%)
• 0.1%
  (69%) – consensus
• 0.0%
  (21%)

Core PPI Y/Y

• 2.7%
  (67%) – consensus
• 2.6%
  (28%)
• 2.5%
  (5%)

Core PPI M/M

• 0.2%
  (84%) – consensus
• 0.1%
  (14%)
• 0.0% (2%)

This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at www.forexlive.com.

Even with the dollar having strengthened and traders scaling back to pricing in a 25 bps move for the Fed in the past week or so, it hasn’t really fazed gold prices whatsoever. There was a mild dip back towards $2,605 earlier this week but that didn’t last with prices rebounding in the past two days. Now, gold is up another 0.3% today to $2,638 and holding near 28% gains year-to-date.

After the rise earlier in the year, gold saw some consolidation around mid-April to June. All that before another run higher and so far this year, there hasn’t really been any looking back for gold. It’s been a stunning ride to fresh record highs on multiple occasions in 2024.

The case for buying gold can be put in very simple terms. Adam made a good post on that here. And it all still rings true.

But even as a gold bull, what has surprised me the most throughout the year has been the resilience and how nonchalant gold has been behaving in light of the many changes in global economic developments.

The most compelling case coming into this year was that we are going to see lower rates. And even though Fed rate cut expectations got pushed back, that didn’t stop gold from tracking higher. Sure, central bank buying is a key part of the narrative. But you could hardly find a meaningful dip on the charts in gold.

The pace and scale of the rise is really the standout in my view, with ETF positioning also not really matching up to that.

Despite all the recent narratives, I’m still a big fan of gold. But as I have mentioned before, it’s tough to be advocating for something with such one-sided movement in the past ten months or so.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I really would like to see a healthy pullback in gold in the weeks ahead before we get into the seasonal buying months in December and January.

Otherwise, it’s getting rather dicey even if the reasons for staying long are still largely in place.

I mean, China reportedly pausing on gold purchases would’ve been a good reason to take some off the top. But then again, I guess it’s China. And how reliable really is the reporting, we can’t be exactly sure.

But still, even with the changes in Fed pricing in the past week and higher dollar/rates, it has barely scratched the gold armor. That’s quite something. Safe haven bids amid the events in the Middle East might be negating all this but then, we’re not seeing such moves faded as has been the case throughout the year.

Until now, the best reason I can argue for a pullback in gold would be a technical one. We might be overdue a squeeze with some form of trigger point. However, there has been numerous times in the past few months for that to happen yet here we are.

What are your thoughts on gold as the year winds down before we get to the seasonal rush in December and January? Is gold overdue a pullback/correction? If so, what’s the trigger that you’re looking for?

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

Fundamental
Overview

Yesterday, the USD got a
boost from a higher than expected US CPI report but gave back the gains pretty quickly.
There are two reasons for such a reaction.

The first is that at the
same time of the US CPI release we got the US Jobless Claims figures which
jumped to the top of their yearly ranges. The culprit was attributed mainly to
Hurricane Helene and the strikes.

The second reason is that
the market was already positioned for a higher than expected reading as we’ve
been seeing consistent upside in Treasury yields and the US Dollar in the days
leading up to the release. Therefore, we got kind of a “sell the fact” reaction.

On net, it was a slightly
hawkish report but it looks like the market needs some more reasons to keep
bidding the US Dollar now that the market’s pricing is back in line with the
Fed’s projections.

On the GBP side, the market
continues to expect the BoE to deliver at least one more rate cut by year-end
with a 25 bps cut in November priced at 80% probability. Next week, we will get
key data from the UK with the release of the labour market and CPI report.

GBPUSD
Technical Analysis – Daily Timeframe

On the daily chart, we can
see that GBPUSD bounced near the 1.30 handle following the US CPI release. That’s
where the buyers stepped in with a defined risk below the level to position for
a rally back into the 1.3250 level. The sellers will want to see the price
breaking below the 1.30 handle to increase the bearish bets into the major trendline
next.

GBPUSD Technical
Analysis – 4 hour Timeframe

On the 4 hour chart, we can
see that the bearish momentum waned as the price approached the 1.30 handle
with the lower lows getting shallower. We have now a key level at 1.3093 as it’s
the high set following the US CPI release.

The buyers will want to see
the price breaking above it to increase the bullish bets into the 1.3175 level
next. The sellers, on the other hand, will likely pile in around these levels
with a defined risk above the 1.3093 level to position for a drop into new
lows.

GBPUSD Technical
Analysis – 1 hour Timeframe

On the 1 hour chart, we can
see more clearly the recent price action. There’s not much else to add here as
the buyers will want to see the price breaking above the 1.3093 level, while
the sellers will look for a break below the 1.30 handle to extend the drop into
the major trendline. The red lines define the average daily range for today.

Upcoming
Catalysts

Today we conclude the week with the US PPI and the University of Michigan
Consumer Sentiment survey.

This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at www.forexlive.com.