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Australian consumer sentiment saw a solid rebound in November, with Westpac Consumer Sentiment Index climbing by 5.3% mom to reach 94.6. This marks a 14.4% rise from its mid-year low, leaving it just 5.4 points shy of the neutral 100 mark.

The improvement was led by increased optimism about the short-term economic outlook. The "economic outlook, next 12 months" sub-index jumped 8.7% to 100.9, the first optimistic reading (above 100) since post-COVID recovery. Confidence around personal finances also strengthened, with the "family finances, next 12 months" sub-index up 4.4% to 104.1. Meanwhile, Unemployment Expectations Index dropped by -7.2% to 120.5, indicating the highest level of labor market confidence since April 2023.

Westpac noted three important observations in November's sentiment trends. First, confidence reached 99.7 in the early survey period, prior to RBA’s rate decision, reflecting marked optimism. Secondly, consumer sentiment remained unaffected by RBA's decision to hold rates steady. Lastly, sentiment dropped sharply after US election result, averaging 91.1 in the survey’s latter half. This indicates an unusually wide range of ±5% for November's final read, suggesting a degree of uncertainty not typically seen.

Full Australia Westpac consumer sentiment release here.

Key Highlights

• Ethereum started a fresh surge above the $2,500 resistance zone.
• ETH price cleared a major bearish trend line with resistance near $2,680 on the daily chart.
• Bitcoin price extended gains and traded to a new record high above $88,000.
• Gold prices extended losses and traded below the $2,665 support.

Ethereum Technical Analysis

Ethereum started a fresh increase above $2,500 alongside Bitcoin. The bulls were able to pump ETH above the $2,550 and $2,650 resistance levels.

Looking at the daily chart, the price cleared a major bearish trend line with resistance near $2,680. It settled above the $2,800 level, the 100-day simple moving average (red), and the 200-day simple moving average (green).

It even surpassed the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $3,560 swing high to the $2,078 low. The bears are now protecting the $3,220 resistance.

The 76.4% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $3,560 swing high to the $2,078 low is acting as a resistance. The next major resistance is near the $3,350 level. A daily close above the $3,350 resistance zone could start another steady increase.

In the stated case, the price may perhaps rise toward the $3,500 level. The next stop for the bulls may perhaps be near the $3,650 level.

On the downside, Ethereum might find support near the $3,000 level. The next major support is $2,950 and the 200-day simple moving average (green), below which the price could slide toward $2,800. Any more losses might call for a move toward the $2,650 level.

Looking at Bitcoin, there was a steady increase above the $80,000 level, and the price traded to a new all-time high above $88,000.

Economic Releases

• Fed's Waller speech.

• Dow Jones rising inside impulse wave 5
• Likely to reach resistance level 45000.00

Dow Jones index continues to rise inside the minor impulse wave 5, which previously broke the key resistance level 43500.00 and the resistance trendline of the daily up channel from August.

The active impulse wave 5 belongs to the weekly upward impulse sequence (C) from April of this year.

Given the clear weekly uptrend, Dow Jones index can be expected to rise to the next resistance level 45000.00 (target price for the completion of the active impulse wave 5).

EURUSD under bearish pressure
• Likely to fall to support level 1.0600

EURUSD currency pair is under bearish pressure after the earlier breakout of the key support level 1.0685, which has been reversing the price from the middle of June.

The breakout of the support level 1.0685 should strengthen the bearish pressure on this currency pair.

Given the simultaneously bullish USD sentiment and the bearish Euro sentiment seen across the FX markets today, EURUSD currency pair can be expected to fall to the next support level 1.0600 (former strong support from April).

The AUD/USD pair is navigating the week starting with a steady tone, trading around 0.6590. After a significant drop last Friday, triggered by disappointment over China's economic stimulus measures, the pair finds a momentary respite as it consolidates recent movements.

China's announcement of a significant debt reduction and support for local governments and economic growth fell short of full transparency, leaving investors wanting more details. Given China's crucial role as Australia's top trading partner, any economic shifts there have a pronounced impact on the AUD's performance.

The ongoing uncertainties surrounding the implications of Donald Trump's U.S. presidential win also continue to influence market sentiment, particularly regarding U.S.-China relations.

This week is pivotal for Australian data with the release of Q3 payroll statistics and overall employment data, which are essential for assessing the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) future monetary policy decisions. Additionally, RBA Governor Michele Bullock's participation in a regulatory panel might offer fresh insights into the central bank's views on inflation and economic demand.

AUD/USD Technical Analysis

Currently, AUD/USD is hovering around 0.6589 within a tight consolidation range. Anticipations lean towards a downward breakout towards 0.6544, potentially extending to 0.6494 before reversing. Upon reaching these levels, a reversal towards 0.6715 may be considered, with an interim target at 0.6600. The MACD indicator supports a bearish outlook in the short term, as it points downwards from above the zero line.

On the hourly chart, after completing a decline to 0.6557 and a subsequent correction to 0.6600, expectations are for a further dip to 0.6544. Success in reaching this level may prompt a rebound to 0.6600, testing from below before possibly resuming the downward trend towards 0.6494. The stochastic oscillator, currently below the 50 mark, underscores the potential for further declines.

The dollar continues to rise on speculation of policy changes following the US election. The Dollar Index rose above 105.5 on Monday – its highest level since early July – before easing slightly in trading.

The main contributors to the index’s strength are weakness in the single currency and the Japanese yen. In both cases, there is a cocktail of political uncertainty and fears that Trump’s protectionist policies will hurt EU and Japanese exporters.

The EURUSD has pulled back to the 1.0650 area. Over the past 12 months, it has only traded below this level for a few days in April. The pair reversed sharply from the 1.20 area after the so-called Trump trade began in early October.

Now that the Republicans have indeed come to power, we should expect further declines in the pair. The next important milestone on the way down is the 1.05 area, where we should expect a global shakeout, as this is historically the most important pivot area for the EURUSD. In 2022 and 2000, a break below 1.05 opened the door to a move well below parity. Conversely, if the EURUSD bulls can defend this level, the rally could be long and high.

USDJPY jumped 0.8% on Monday, back to last week’s local highs at 154. The pair has risen more than 10% from the mid-September lows and has made intra-week highs for ten consecutive weeks. The drivers were first disappointed with the pace of monetary tightening, then the Trump trade. Political reshuffles following the surprise defeat of the ruling party and uncertainty about further rate hikes have also played a role.

If we consider the 14% drop in USDJPY from 162 to 139 as a correction of the rise since the beginning of 2020, the new upside momentum promises to end closer to 200. However, only the passivity of the Treasury and the BoJ in breaching the 162 level will confirm the end of this monumental scenario.

EURUSD started the week negatively (down 0.7% until early US trading on Monday, in extension of Friday’s 0.8% drop, with total loss of 2.7% since announcement of Trump’s victory on Wednesday.

The single currency has also registered a weekly loss of 1.8% vs dollar, with near term action weighed by large weekly bearish candlestick and formation of bearish engulfing pattern on weekly chart.

Fresh strength of the US dollar pushed the euro to the lowest in over 6 months on Monday, with steep downtrend (bear-leg from 1.0936, Nov 5 lower top) eyeing key med-term support at 1.0601 (2024 low posted on Apr 16).

Firmly bearish daily technical studies add to euro-negative fundamentals (euphoria over expectations of Trump’s measures to strongly boost economic growth / fears of tariffs on imports from the EU), with partial profit-taking to spark limited correction.

Broken Fibo 76.4% (1.0745) to ideally cap, with extended upticks to stall under broken psychological 1.08 supported, now acting as solid resistance, to keep larger bears in play and provide better selling opportunities.

Res: 1.0682; 1.0745;1.0761; 1.0800
Sup: 1.0601; 1.0516; 1.0495; 1.0448

• Gold prices retreat as US Dollar strengthens as hopes of aggressive rate cuts fade.
• China’s economic slowdown concerns and potential sanctions impact iron ore and gold prices.
• Technical analysis indicates gold’s vulnerability to further downside, with key levels identified.

Gold prices have started the week on the back foot as the US Dollar continues to advance. Growing hopes of a ceasefire under a Trump Presidency have also diminished the safe haven’s appeal coupled with expectations of fewer rate cuts in 2025.

The biggest loser from the US election last week appears to be commodity markets which are feeling the strain of a rampant US Dollar. Gold prices retreated last week followed by Silver, Platinum with iron ore facing fresh challenges from concern around China growth as well.

China, who had been a major buyer of Gold this year, has remained on the sidelines for the past few months as Gold prices continued to soar to fresh highs. Concerns around the growth picture in China have also impacted Iron Ore prices as markets anticipate a slowdown in the Chinese economy which could dent demand for raw materials. The threat of sanctions has seen UBS downgrade China growth for 2025 to 4% while warning that 2026 could prove even more challenging. Will we see more downgrades in the coming weeks?

US Dollar Strength Expected to Continue

The problem for Gold prices moving forward is that President Trump will only take office in January. This means that any of the optimism around a Middle East peace deal and the potential for higher rates may not change until then. This could leave Gold in a spot of bother with the recent selloff likely to continue.

There are a few things that could reignite the bullish rally in the precious metal with one of them being a retaliatory attack on Israel by Iran. This could put hopes of a Middle East ceasefire in jeopardy and thus lead to an increase in demand for safe havens once more.

Many had touted a Trump victory as a positive for the Gold rally, however given that markets have some experience from Trump’s first term it appears they are a lot calmer this time around.

Looking back at the performance of Gold under various Presidents, during Trump’s first term in office the precious metal rose 55%. The picture however may be distorted by the fact that the last year of the Trump Presidency occurred during the pandemic as Gold demand was ramped up due to the uncertainty.

Source: Refinitiv, ING Think (click to enlarge)

Even then given the recent rally in Gold and the expectation that Trump policies could lead to higher inflation and a stronger USD, another 55% gain seems unlikely.

A look ahead to the rest of the day, Veterans day holiday in the US should see a low liquidity US session which could lead to a lot of choppy price action as the European session comes to a close.

Technical Analysis Gold (XAU/USD)

From a technical analysis standpoint, Gold on a daily timeframe is looking ominous and vulnerable toward further downside.

A break of the long term ascending trendline last week was followed by a brief foray higher before a rejection and selloff which has brought Gold to within touching distance of last week’s low. At the moment though, price appears to be caught between support at 2650 and resistance 2700.

Immediate support rests at 2650 before 2639 and 2624 comes into focus.

Now a recovery from her will need acceptance above the 2700 handle if we are to see a further push to the upside. At this stage the 2800 handle appears far away but could still come into play moving forward.

Gold (XAU/USD) Daily Chart, November 11, 2024

Source: TradingView (click to enlarge)

Support

• 2650
• 2639
• 2624

Resistance

• 2675
• 2700
• 2711

Crude Oil

The price of a barrel of crude oil has fallen 1.6% since the start of Monday, bringing the decline over the last two trading sessions to 4%. Pressures on the oil price include signals from the ceasefire talks between Israel and Lebanon (reducing supply risks) and disappointment over the size of China’s stimulus package (revising expected demand).

Among the longer-term factors, the upward trend in US oil inventories has continued. The strategic reserve has increased by 1.4 million barrels, maintaining the pace in recent weeks and accelerating from the average rate of 750k barrels per week since the beginning of the year. The acceleration appears to be driven by lower prices, which also help to provide soft support.

Commercial inventories have been on an upward trend since the end of September, with oil producers adding at a record pace of 13.5 mb/d over the past four weeks. However, the current level of commercial inventories (427.7 mb/d) is at the lower end of the range of the past 5 years, and this factor is unlikely to seriously worry the markets as long as inventories remain below 500 mb/d.

The markets expect the Republican party’s political dominance to favour oil producers. However, we doubt this will lead to an increase in production. Instead, the focus will be on optimising profits (with equal emphasis on price and volume) and reducing subsidies for alternative energy sources.

A Republican administration may step up purchases of oil reserves after January, but that’s still more than two months away.

Technically, oil continues to be dominated by the bears, with a sharp reversal below the 50-week moving average in early October and trading near the lower end of its range over the past three years. The price also closed below its 50-day moving average last week and is now actively declining after falling below $69/bbl WTI. We will be watching the price dynamics and OPEC+ comments with interest in the event of a pullback to $65-66, as this would take Brent back to $70-71, which looks like an informal floor for the major cartel members.

Natural Gas

On Monday, the US Natural Gas price rose more than 5% since the start of the day due to the temporary shutdown of 16% of gas production capacity in the Gulf of Mexico.

This doesn’t seem to be a problem for the US now, with the latest data showing the highest gas inventories in 4 years and close to historical highs for the index.

The price has returned to the $3.0 area – highs in just under two weeks. The $3.0-$3.20 area has acted as pivot resistance more than once this year, and it will be interesting to see if this pattern continues. Given the inventory levels and dynamics of oil, a new downtrend is more likely for now. In the case of gas, however, a break of resistance could trigger a dramatic rise.