Gold risk reversals show bias for continued strength over three months

Omkar Godbole FXStreet Contributor

Gold's options market is pricing continued strength in the yellow metal over the next three months.

Three-month risk reversals on gold (XAU3MRR), a gauge of calls to puts, has risen to 1.75, the highest level since March, according to data source Reuters. In other words, the bullish bias for gold is strongest in four months.

A positive number indicates demand for calls or bullish bets is stronger than that for puts or bearish bets.

Gold prices surpassed the previous lifetime high of $1,921 reached in September 2011 and were last seen trading near $1,930 per ounce, representing an 8% month-to-date gain. The yellow metal has gained over 25% so far this year.

XAU3MRR

Author

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

AUD/USD remains depressed 0.7000, awaits FOMC Minutes

AUD/USD struggles to capitalize on its recent recovery move and trades with a negative bias below 0.7000 in Wednesday's Asian session. Amid geopolitical uncertainty, the US Dollar attracts some dip-buyers after a fresh leg up in US bond yields, keeping the pair under pressure despite hawkish RBA expectations. All eyes now remain on the FOMC Minutes.

USD/JPY holds firm near 158.50 ahead of Fed Minutes

USD/JPY hangs close to a one-and-a-half-week high near 158.50 in the Asian session on Wednesday, with bulls now awaiting a move beyond the 200-day SMA hurdle before positioning for further gains ahead of the FOMC Minutes. Meanwhile, a fresh leg up in US bond yields revives US Dollar demand amid geopolitical uncertainties, boosting the pair amid dovish BoJ commentary.

Gold eyes Fed Minutes for fresh impetus after holding $4,100

Gold is fading the previous rebound in Asia on Wednesday, struggling near $4,150. US Dollar bounces in sync with Oil prices and US Treasury yields ahead of FOMC Minutes. From a short-term technical view, Gold remains a ‘sell-on-bounce’ trade.

Bitcoin fails to hold $85,000, Ethereum downside risks rise, XRP momentum fades

Bitcoin (BTC) remains under pressure on Wednesday, trading below $84,100 after a 2.88% correction so far this week. Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) followed in BTC’s footsteps and extended their corrections, trading below $2,620 and $1.500, respectively. Momentum indicators for these top three cryptocurrencies show signs of weakening and hint at deeper correction risk.

RBI looks set to step up Repo Rate by 25 bps to 5.5%

The Reserve Bank of India is set to announce its bi-monthly monetary policy decision on Wednesday at 10:00 AM IST, in a meeting where the central bank is expected to initiate an interest rate hike cycle after maintaining a status-quo so far this calendar year. According to the market consensus, the RBI will hike its key Repo Rate by 25 basis points to 5.5% from 5.25%.

Eurozone inflation just hit 3.8%, its highest in three years. This chart shows why the ECB can’t simply hike its way out

The ECB would normally have a relatively straightforward answer to inflation running almost twice its target: raise interest rates. But these are not normal circumstances. This time, the bond market is already doing part of the tightening for it, leaving the ECB facing an increasingly difficult dilemma.