While The Us Dollar Strengthens

(Reuters) - Gold managed to recover most of the ground it lost in a brutal sell-off earlier on Wednesday even as sentiment and the euro remained fragile as European leaders met to discuss the deepening euro-zone debt crisis. Gold tested key support levels for a second time in a week as a wave of selling hit commodities, the euro and equities, before bouncing off those lows in New York afternoon trading. Money had piled into bonds and the dollar, assets considered low risk, on Wednesday ahead of a meeting of European Union leaders later in the day. The leaders are expected to discuss growth-boosting measures and the idea of a joint euro zone bond. Spot gold prices dropped as low as $1,534.25 an ounce, down over 2 percent, as the euro slumped to its weakest against the dollar in nearly ...

Gold slipped to a fresh 4-1/2 month low on Tuesday as the euro continued to lose ground to the dollar after Greece's failure to form a coalition government heightened concerns over Europe's financial crisis and led investors to spurn risky assets. After six rounds of fruitless wrangling, Greece abandoned efforts to form a government and called a new election that some investors fear may hand victory to the leftists, undo the country's financial bailout package, and push it closer to bankruptcy and out of the euro zone. In response, gold slipped with the euro, which tumbled to new four-month lows in late New York trade. The euro had fallen in five of the last six sessions on worries over Greece's June election prospects, dragging gold down with it. Spot gold was off 0.88 percent ...

Gold eased below $1,560 an ounce on Tuesday after the failure of Greek politicians to form a government sent the single European currency to four-month lows and unnerved investors over the profitability of holding euro-denominated assets. With gold's decline to its lowest since late December, consumers in top purchasing-nations such as India have delved into the market, which analysts said could protect the bullion price from a more protracted decline. Gold remains vulnerable, however, as worries over the euro zone's future simmer in the background, keeping the single currency under pressure. Spot gold was down 0.1 percent at $1,555.69 an ounce at 1350 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for June delivery were down $8.70 an ounce at $1,552.10. Gold earlier hit its lowest since December 30 at $ ...

Gold prices edged back towards $1,560 an ounce in Europe on Tuesday after a positive reading of German growth lifted the euro versus the dollar, and as physical buyers stepped in to take advantage of the metal's fall to 4-1/2 month lows. Gold remains vulnerable to more losses, however, as worries over the euro zone's future simmer in the background, keeping the single currency under pressure. Spot gold was up 0.1 percent at $1,557.80 an ounce at 05:24 a.m. EDT (0924 GMT), while U.S. gold futures for June delivery were down $3.50 an ounce at $1,557.50. Gold earlier hit its lowest since December 30 at $1,547.99 an ounce and is down more than 6 percent in May so far, on track for its worst monthly performance since December's washout, as talk that Greece could exit the euro zone spooked ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR "The overall manufacturing trend remains weak." - Pierre-Olivier Beffy, chief economist at Exane BNP Paribas French industrial production fell in March, said the national statistics office Insee on Thursday. Output contracted 0.9 per cent from February, when it gained 0.2 per cent. USD "It’s hard to get nervous that imports are rising." - Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist at Barclays Capital Inc. The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits fell to 367,000 in the week ended May 5 from 368,000 the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday. GBP "Our forecast is that they are done with QE, but you can’t rule out more later this year." - Ross Walker, an economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc The Bank of England kept rates on hold ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR Unemployment in Spain approached a new record of 5.64 million in March while the jobless rate topped 24.4%, reported the national statistics office. Analysts expect the Spain's officials to confirm that the country is falling into recession. Meanwhile, retail sales in the country declined by 3.7% in March on an annual basis. USD US consumer spending surged in March, adding to the previous gains as incomes increased. Household purchases that account about 70% of the US economy surged by 0.3%, following a 0.9% increase in February. Experts projected consumer spending to rise by 0.4%. Meanwhile, incomes eased up 0.4%, indicating the largest increase in the last three months. GBP UK home value accelerated in April, the second straight month, Hometrack Ltd said on ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR Spain's credit rating was lowered by Standard & Poor's for a second time in 2012 on enduring worries the nation will have to apply additional fiscal backing to lenders as the economy shrinks. S&P cut its long term grade for Spain from A to BBB+ adding a negative outlook. Country's short term rating was lowered from A-1 to A-2, S&P agency reported on Thursday. USD Crude oil price declined from almost 4-week high in New York trade after S&P ratings agency cut Spain's sovereign credit rating, boosting concerns that further recession in Europe may halt demand for crude. Oil to be delivered in June lost USD 0.61, reaching USD 103.94 a barrel. June Brent oil gave up USD 0.49 and traded at USD 119.43 a barrel. GBP Today the Great Britain Pound extended its gains ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR Deutsche Bank, the German biggest lender posted a 33% drop in its first quarter profit, citing debt crisis as a negative force that curbed trading. Net income declined to EUR 1.38 billion (USD 1.82 billion) compared to EUR 2.06 billion in the same period last year. Economists questioned by Bloomberg expected the profit to decrease less to EUR 1.56 billion. Deutsche Bank shares have added 16% this year. USD Crude oil fluctuated close to a one-week record high as Fed claimed they expect the economic growth to advance, encouraging the speculation that fuel demand will increase. Moreover Iran announced it may stop its nuclear expansion. June crude traded at USD 104.07 a barrel after climbing USD 0.57 yesterday. Brent oil to be delivered in June traded at USD 119 a ...

Fundamental Analysis EUR "The debt crisis is far from over still and I think Spain will be worse before it gets better" - Henrik Drusebjerg, a senior equity strategist at Nordea Bank AB The seasonally adjusted current account of the euro zone swung a deficit of €1.3 billion in February from a surplus of €3.7 billion in January, said the European Central Bank on Wednesday. USD "We got used to companies beating estimates by a pretty good margin" - Burt White, chief investment officer at LPL Financial Corp. U.S. stocks fell after Intel Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. disappointed market participants with their quarterly results. GBP "… the monetary policy committee is likely to remain on hold on the stock of asset purchases at its May meeting" - Mauro Giorgio Marrano, an ...