Strong USD Sends Gold to a 3-Week Low

 | Aug 03, 2023 04:08PM ET

  • Crude prices rally after Saudi's signal output cuts can be extended or deepened
  • Gold struggles as bond market selloff extends
  • Bitcoin’s tight range narrows to $28,900 to $30,100
    • h2 Oil/h2

    Crude oil prices rallied after the Saudis did what everyone expected them to do, they extended output cuts. The Saudis are doing whatever it takes to defend oil prices and that could mean we could be seeing $90 oil soon. The only thing getting in oil’s way is a weakening global outlook as several advanced economies are starting to feel the impact of central bank tightening.

    A strong US Dollar has been getting in oil’s way, but that might not extend much longer if sentiment improves once we get beyond mega-cap tech earnings and the NFP report. The short-term crude demand outlook should hold up as it is clear as day that the US economy is weakening, albeit at a slow pace.

    h2 Gold/h2

    Gold should start attracting once we see the bond market selloff cool off. The US might have some debt issues over the coming years and that should keep gold supported. While the US economy has been very resilient, the Fed’s work will likely be done after one more rate hike. Gold should start to see stronger safe-haven flows as the stock market seems like it won’t be making a run towards record-high territory anytime soon.

    The strong dollar trade might last a little while longer, so gold’s struggles might see a test of the $1950 region before buyers emerge.