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Operation Twist: New York Fed purchases $1.946 billion in Treasury coupons.

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Billionaires Soros, Paulson Bet Big on Gold

ABC News (August 16) — Once again John Paulson is choosing to heavily invest in gold and fellow billionaire George Soros is making a similar bet.

According to Bloomberg News, Paulson & Co. and Soros Fund Management bumped up exposure to SPDR Gold Trust to 21.8 million shares and 884,000 shares, respectively. Paulson & Co. now has 44 percent of its $24 billion fund exposed to bullion.

The decision by Soros is an interesting one. In 2010, Soros called gold “the ultimate bubble” during an appearance on Reuters television. “It may be going higher but it’s certainly not safe and it’s not going to last forever,” he stated.

[Source]

JK Comment #1: Well, nothing like a big headline followed by drivel trying to undermine the message. This article goes on, as you will read, to quote two relative unknowns who think Paulson and Soros ‘see something they don’t’. They go on to discourage any private individuals from participating in the gold market:

Quoting the article again — He (Sorrentino) continued, “the fundamentals behind gold such as available supply coming to market and end demand have not changed in any material way. In fact, gold purchase by central banks in the pacific rim, India and Russia have reached new highs. So from an investor psychology and supply/demand perspective, this looks like every cycle before it during the last decade.”

“The big question is whether or not this time it’s different. Every commodity-driven cycle ultimately comes to an end, and ten years is generally the average duration for these market moves,” said Sorrentino.

But, despite big bets by two of the nation’s billionaires, he continued, “…There is an old saying among Wall Street trader; ’It’s said with a whisper and not with a shout, when the widows and orphans get in, it’s time to get out.’”

JK Comment #2: Which is Soros? Which is Paulson? ‘Widow or orphan’? Ridiculous. And if the ‘widows and orphans’ are ‘in’, how do you explain that less than 1% of invested assets worldwide are currently participating in the gold market. Not to mention the statement of ’10 year cycles’ is completely baseless. So to extrapolate from two HUGE players that have been EXTREMELY successful investing in gold, and have shown a track record of being right on the money with their bets, that this is somehow the final ‘herd’ phase of the gold market borders on lunacy. In fact, being the contrarian’s contrarian, I might say that because financial advisors like these continue to discourage gold suggests we’ve got quite a long way to go.

Much has been made of the Soros ‘bubble’ comment over the years, but we have always contended that it was misinterpreted and taken out of context. The sentiment of Soros’ statement is that gold will become the ultimate asset bubble. If that’s the case, we have quite a long way to go from $1600 for it to eclipse the magnitude of both the tech and the housing bubbles. All told, this is HUGE news for the gold market, despite every attempt in this article to suggest otherwise. It appears Soros and Paulson might be following the same cues as our clients, who have found buying during the stable slow summer period can prove very fruitful. Pete’s article from last week is worth another look as we digest this move from two huge believers in gold.

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US housing starts -1.1% to 746k in Jul, below market expectations of 753k, vs negative revised 754k in Jun.

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US initial jobless claims +2k to 366k for the week ended 11-Aug, above expectations of 363k, vs upward revised 364k in previous week.

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Gold steady at 1602.80 (-1.31). Silver 27.81 (+0.01). Dollar better. Euro flat. Stocks called higher. Treasurys steady to higher.

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Operation Twist: New York Fed sells $7.796 billion in Treasury coupons.

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US industrial production +0.6% in Jul, on expectations of +0.5%, vs negative revised +0.1% in Jun; cap use 79.3%.

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US TIC net long-term security purchases (ex-swaps) +$9.3 bln in Jun, vs $55.9 bln in May; total net flows +$16.7 bln.

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US Empire State Index plunged to -5.9 in Aug, well below expectations of 7.0, vs 7.4 in Jul.

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US CPI unch in Jul, below expectations of +0.2%, vs unch in Jun; core +0.1%, on expectations of +0.2%.

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Gold easier at 1599.11 (-1.19). Silver 27.78 (-0.048). Dollar higher. Euro slips. Stocks called lower. Treasurys mixed.

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Operation Twist: New York Fed purchases $4.646 billion in Treasury coupons.

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US business inventories +0.1% in Jun, just below expectations of +0.2%, vs +0.3% in May.

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US PPI +0.3% in Jul, on expectations of +0.2%, vs +0.1% in Jun; +0.5% y/y; ex-food&energy +2.5% y/y.

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US retail sales +0.8% in Jul, above expectations of +0.3%, vs negative revised -0.7% in Jun; ex-auto +0.8%.

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Gold steady at 1609.57 (-0.98). Silver 27.866 (+0.066). Dollar easier. Euro higher. Stocks called higher. Treasurys mixed.

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Operation Twist: New York Fed purchases $1.833 billion in Treasury coupons.

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Gold higher at 1621.90 (+2.50). Silver 28.067 (-0.013). Dollar easier. Euro firms. Stocks called mixed. Treasurys mixed.

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Morning Snasphot


10-Aug (USAGOLD) — Gold began the US session on its heels a bit, but still well within the confines of the recent range. However, a firmer tone subsequently emerged as the dollar gave back its intraday gains and the euro firmed ahead of the European close.

A strong weekly close today, in the wake of gold’s inability to sustain probes below the 20-day moving average earlier in the week, offers further encouragement to the breakout scenario I outlined in the Special Report we published earlier in the week. Such a close would also add additional confidence to the bullish crossover on the weekly chart that occurred several weeks ago (20-week, over 50-week).

Chinese exports were much weaker than expected in July, at just 1% y/y, on expectation of +8.6% y/y, versus +11.3% in June. This sparked the latest uptick in global growth concerns, which in turn has prompted a corresponding uptick in expectations of additional monetary stimulus.

While the Fed has been relegated to what The Economist called “open mouth operations“. At some point, the market is going to demand something a little more substantive than mere jawboning. The market is eagerly anticipating some hints about the central bank’s path going forward from the Jackson Hole symposium at the end of the month and in some quarters hope springs eternal for a QE3 announcement when the FOMC next meets September 12-13.

• US import price index -0.6% in Jul, on expectations of +0.2%, vs upward revised -2.4% in Jun; export price index +0.5%.
• Canada employment plunged 30k in Jul, on expectations of +7k; unemployment rate ticks higher to 7.3%.
• Germany CPI – Final confirmed at +0.4% m/m in Jul; +1.7% y/y.
• France industrial production UNCH m/m in Jun, on expectations of +0.4%, vs negative revised -2.1% in May; -2.3% y/y.
• France manufacturing production +0.1% m/m, vs negative revised -1.1% m/m in May; -2.6% y/y.
• Norway CPI -0.5% m/m in Jul, vs -0.5% in Jun; +0.2% y/y. Core +1.3% y/y.
• UK PPI Input (nsa) +1.3% m/m in Jul, vs negative revised -2.9% m/m in Jun; -2.4% y/y.
• UK PPI Output (nsa) UNCH m/m in Jul, vs negative revised -0.6% m/m in Jun; +1.7% y/y.
• Portugal CPI UNCH m/m in Jul, vs -0.2% in Jun; +2.8% y/y.
• South Korea PPI -0.1% y/y in Jul, vs +0.8% in Jun.
• Japan domestic CGPI -2.1% y/y in Jul, vs negative revised -1.4% in Jun.
• Japan industrial production (sa) – Revised +0.4% m/m in Jun, vs -0.1% previously.
• Chinese exports +1.0% y/y in Jul, well below market expectation of +8.6% y/y, versus +11.3% in Jun; imports +4.7% y/y.
• Singapore Q2 GDP revised to +2.0% y/y, vs +1.9% previously.
• Hong Kong Q2 GDP +1.1% y/y, vs +0.4% in Q1.

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Operation Twist: New York Fed sells $7.796 billion in Treasury coupons.

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UN food price index jumps on U.S. drought

Food prices up 6% for July. Corn prices up 23%; wheat up 19%; sugar up 12%.

“Meat prices are falling as producers cull herds in an effort to lower feed costs. Eventually this will lead to tighter supplies, but that typically takes about nine months to a year to materialize.”

Source

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Aug. Special Over Half Sold Out – Only 150 Coins Remain

Our August Buyers Group for German 20 mark gold coins is over half sold out after the first day. If you have an interest, we recommend getting in your order.

German Wilhelm II

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“Massive buying at London PM Fix”

LeMetropole Cafe’s Bill Murphy reports “massive” gold buying at today’s London Afternoon Fix.

LeMetropole Cafe

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Gold bulls strengthen on outlook for additional stimulus

“Gold traders are the most bullish in five weeks as investors expanded their bullion holdings near a record on mounting speculation that central banks will have to do more to bolster economic growth….Investors bought about $850 million of gold through exchange-traded products this month, taking the total of 2,411.7 metric tons yesterday to within 0.1 percent of the all-time high set July 5, data compiled by Bloomberg show.”

Bloomberg
8/10/12

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US import price index -0.6% in Jul, on expectations of +0.2%, vs upward revised -2.4% in Jun; export price index +0.5%.

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Canada employment plunged 30k in Jul, on expectations of +7k; unemployment rate ticks higher to 7.3%. CAD pressured.

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Gold lower at 1609.85 (-6.55). Silver 28.84 (-0.29). Dollar firms. Euro defensive. Stocks called lower. Treasurys mixed.

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Operation Twist: New York Fed purchases $1.349 billion in TIPS.

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August Buyers Group – German 20 mark gold coins

A N N O U N C E M E N T

Here’s an opportunity to purchase hard to get German 20 mark gold coins at heavily discounted prices. Orders will be served on a first come first served basis. Only 500 coins available. Pricing competitive to similar sized bullion coins (roughly one-quarter ounce – .2304 net fine troy ounces).

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USAGOLD Special Report

Gold Technicals Portend Impending Breakout
Similar chart patterns in seven major currencies signal potential for resumption of secular bull market

by Peter Grant

“As a market technician by trade for many years, when I see a protracted series of lower highs and higher lows, I think I start to salivate a little.”

Link

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