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Gold is a highly sought-after precious metal which, for many centuries, has been used as money, a store of value and in jewelry. The metal occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks, underground "veins" and in alluvial deposits. Modern industrial uses include dentistry and electronics, where gold has traditionally found use because of its good resistance to oxidative corrosion.
Gold retreats as Dubai World continues to cast shadow over Global Markets
The gold price gave back some of its substantial gains today after the yellow metal came under pressure in Asian trading before capitulating when Europe joined the selling frenzy. Futures were last changing hands a $1,160. After holding the $1,190 at the start of Friday’s trading, the gold price shed more than $60 before rebounding to current levels.
Analysts and commentators have generally pointed to profit taking as the cause of the decline. The growing uncertainty in financial markets generally and fluctuations in the forex markets has encouraged many speculators to ‘cash-in their chips’ following gold’s record breaking rally which peaked at $1,195.
Financial markets have been decisively cautious while the US has been celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday.
Both equities and commodities came under pressure after yesterday’s news that state owned Dubai World had delayed its debt repayment obligations. Many economists expect the neighbouring Emirate state of Abu Dhabi to bail out Dubai. However many of the world’s major institutional investors and central banks hold the Emirate state’s sovereign debt and the potential fallout of any default remains unclear.
Before the rather subdued end to the week the gold market had been well supported and looked set to break through the key $1,200 level as it notched up eight consecutive ‘up days’.
Bullish gold investors were emboldened by several state banks acquiring gold from the IMF (International Monetary Fund). Earlier this week the IMF confirmed a further sale of its gold. The Sri Lanka central bank bought 10 tonnes of IMF gold for $375 million. Additionally news reports on Wednesday raised speculation that the Indian Reserve Bank may be in the market for more IMF gold. According to Indian newspaper The Financial Chronicle, India is open to buying more gold from the IMF. Reports suggest that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will get the gold if its bid is successful at the price it has offered. However, as yet neither the RBI nor their governor Duvvuri Subbarao has commented on the speculation. It was India’s initial 200 million tonne purchase that took the yellow metal beyond the $1,100 tipping point earlier this month. Since then the gold market rally as hardly looked back recording three consecutive weekly gains, rising almost $100 an ounce.
The gold market will now look to US sentiment this afternoon, although participation is anticipated to be lower than usual as many traders will try extend their holiday weekend. Perhaps some Wall Street traders may plan to make the most of their re-instated bonuses and join the annual hordes of ‘Black Friday’ discount shoppers.
On the London Stock Exchange, gold producers fell with the exception of Petropavlovsk (LSE: POG) who climbed against the trend to rise 1.5% higher. South American focused gold producer Yamana Gold (LSE: YAU) was the worst affected, losing almost 4%. Elsewhere on the main board, African focused producer Randgold Resources (LSE: RRS) and emerging producer Centamin Egypt (LSE: CEY) both slipped around 1%.
On the AIM market Chaarat Gold (AIM: CGH) lead the junior market as it advanced more than 5.5% this morning. Leyshon Resources (AIM: LEY) and GMA Resource (LSE: GMA) followed as they rose 5% and 3% respectively. Also trading on positive ground this morning was Avocet Mining (AIM: AVM) which added 1.5%. Meanwhile the majority of the AIM market’s other gold explorers and developers followed the gold price and the majors lower.
