Gold: Triangle still unresolved; Entry levels refinedThe US employment report was mixed. Payrolls posted a 215,000 jobs gain, around June's level, while analysts had expected 225,000. The previous number was upwardly revised to 231,000. The unemployment rate remained at 5.3%, while wage growth came out at 2.1% year-on-year, up from 2.0% in the previous month. According to a latest Reuters poll, the median probability for septermber rate hike estimated by US primary dealers is 60% vs 55% in June. The number for December meeting stands at 80%. 9 of 19 dealers expect two rate hikes this year.
The short-term reaction has been very volatile, with violent swings in both directions. The price of Gold has tested both trendlines that form the Triangle pattern. There is a clear 5-wave advance that usually sets a new uptrend. The key support cluster is projected @1089. Our approach is to wait for a 4-hour candle to close either above 1099 to generate a buy signal; or below 1082 for a sell signal. While the intraday chart to the right suggests higher prices based on last swing's wave structure, the long-term trend is, obviously, down.
Employment
GBP/USD Accelerates higher on weak ADP reportEmployment in the US private sector disappointed last month, shattering hopes that the Fed will raise interest rates in September. The number of employees increased by 185,000 in July compared to the 229,000 booked in June, according to ADP. On Friday, the non-farm payroll report will provide further hints of labor market development, with analysts expecting a gain of 220,000 people added to the workforce, while the unemployment rate should stay intact at 5.3%.
The news spurred US Dollar sell-off with GBPUSD trading near session highs at 1.5646. Technically, there is an Inverse Head&Shoulders pattern developing. Its right shoulder took the form of a 'bear trap', which adds to British Pound strength.
Please, mind the heavy event risk on Thursday. The Bank of England meeting will be closely watched following a series of comments from MPC members, including Governor Carney, that the first rate hike since the crisis is moving closer. In conjunction with Thursday’s interest rate decision, for the first time we also have the simultaneous release of the MPC meeting minutes and August Quarterly Inflation Report, followed by a press conference. This deluge of information flow has been dubbed 'Super Thursday' among analysts.
Gold: Triangle Thrust UpdateAn update to our previous idea (see link below). An unexpectedly disappointing gauge of employment costs in the US brought strong bearish pressure on USD, shooting the EUR/USD well above the $1.10 level, as well as lifting Gold price up to $1100 handle. No trendline break in XAUUSD yet.
The Employment Cost Index showed the lowest increase in workers' pay since 1982, spurring general disappointment. As the market remains strongly sensitive to the labor market and inflation worries related to wages, such indices are still monitored due to possible Federal Reserve tightening steps in September. Wages, making up approximately 70% of this index, rose 2.1% over the year in June, lower than the post-recession high of 2.6% at the beginning of the year. The gain in wages and benefits during the second quarter was the weakest since 1981, growing only 0.1%.