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USD rose a bit against most major currencies Tuesday as some investors took profits after the Greenback’s declines in the previous session. On a weekend meeting held in Scotland, the G-20 policymakers agreed to maintain support for the economic recovery and failed to address the dollar appreciation issue. That action drove the US currency lower Monday, with the dollar index falling to its lowest level since August 2008. The USD took a break Tuesday on profit-taking and short-covering ahead of the Veterans Day Holiday. But savvy market observers believe that the USD will remain under pressures on the carry trade action. (Note: In carry trades, investors sells a currency with a relatively low interest rate and uses the funds to purchase a different currency or commodity yielding a higher interest rate.) There are indications that the USD is now serving as the funding currency for carry trades, said the International Monetary Fund in a report released last Saturday. Read more

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Gold futures on the COMEX Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rocketed to a 3 month high on Wednesday as the US$ weakened on disappointing jobless data. Silver and Platinum followed Gold North. Gold price for December delivery gained US$22, or 2.2%, to finish at US$978.50 oz, touching as high as US$981.40, the best level since June 4. The US Dollar fell against most rival currencies as a private sector report on unemployment disappointed investors who had anticipated the economy to recover as a faster pace. The ADP National Employment Report said that employment in the private sector fell by 298,000 in August following a revised loss of 360,000 jobs in July. The dollar index, a gauge measuring the greenback’s value against six other currencies, declined 0.385, or 0.5%, to 78.376 by the end of the Gold floor trading session. A weak US$ usually strengthens Gold’s appeal as investors purchase the precious metal as an alternative asset of hedge. December Silver finished at US$15.365 oz, up 30.5 cents. October Platinum gained US$3.30 to US$1,230.10 oz.

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Gold futures on the COMEX Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange closed higher on Wednesday as crude oil jumped sharply upon unexpectedly plunging oil inventory. Silver finished lower, but platinum rose. Gold price for December delivery climbed US$5.60, or 0.6%, to finish at US$944.80 oz. The Energy Information Association reported on Wednesday that US Crude Oil in storage for the week ended Aug. 14 fell by 8.4M bbls. This is much lower than economists’ expectations of a 1.3M bbl increase. Sparked by the tightened oil stockpile, benchmark Crude Oil for September delivery soared US$2.47, or 3.6%, to US$71.66 bbl by the end of Gold floor trading time. Worries on inflation helped the yellow metal metal regain strength and close the session higher. In the currency markets, the Dollar index, a gauge measuring the greenback’s value against six major currencies, stood at 78.438, down from the intra-day high of 79.225 in the morning session. A weaker US$ is considered to boost Gold’s demand as the dollar-denominated yellow metal becomes cheaper. December silver finished at US$13.909 oz, down 8.6 pennies. October Platinum rose US$9.30 to US$1,241.40 oz.

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US consumer spending in May rose for the first time since February, and savings hit a record high as federal stimulus measures boosted incomes, bolstering the view that the economy was close to emerging from recession. US consumer sentiment also edged higher this month to its strongest since February 2008. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than 70% of US economic activity, rose 0.3% in May, the Commerce Department said last Friday. The department also revised up April’s figure to un-changed from a small decline previously. Personal income jumped 1.4% last month, propped up by social benefit payments from the government’s massive economic stimulus. The US$ extended losses vs. the Euro as the data reduced safe haven demand for the “Greenback”.

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