Highlights
  • Gold price rallied another 0.7% MoM to end 2023 at a new historical year-end high of $2,071.80/oz. as the Federal Reserve announced its plan to cut rates in the coming year. The gold price rose due to market expectations of rate cuts, a weaker U.S. dollar and softer inflation data, all of which increased investor demand.
  • Despite the above-mentioned bullish factors in play, silver prices underperformed its yellow counterpart by settling December at $24.085/oz., down 6.1% MoM. Concerns about demand exceeding supply due to the clean energy transition and the potential for Fed rate cuts are driving managed money into commodities, pushing their net positions upward.
  • Copper prices closed the month at $3.8905/lb., up 1.0% MoM, lifted by a weaker U.S. dollar. However, concerns about China’s demand recovery, reflected in a shrinking manufacturing PMI, capped further gains despite tight global copper supplies.
  • Micro Gold futures (MGC) and Micro Silver futures (SIL) Q4 average daily volume (ADV) of 63,824 contracts and 11,380 contracts were up 26% and 15% QoQ respectively. In addition, SIL 2023 ADV of 10,719 contracts is the highest since launch. The continuous growth of liquidity enhances market participants’ capital efficiency.

Micro Gold (MGC), Micro Silver (SIL) and Micro Copper (MHG) Futures Update

MGC, SIL and MHG price movement and daily range (expressed in terms of one lot notional)

*Intraday price movement is expressed as the difference between the daily high price and the daily low price multiplied by the contract notional in troy ounce (MGC and SIL) and pounds (MHG).

Options Heatmap (Change in OI from December 1 to December 29, 2023)

Key Economic Events in January/February 2024:

Key Economic Event

ET

GMT / BST

SGT / HKT

China Caixin Manufacturing PMI

Jan 1, 8.45 p.m.

Jan 2, 1.45 a.m.

Jan 2, 9.45 a.m.

U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI

Jan 3, 10.00 a.m.

Jan 3, 3.00 p.m.

Jan 3, 11.00 p.m.

FOMC Minutes

Jan 3, 2.00 p.m.

Jan 3, 7.00 p.m.

Jan 4, 3.00 a.m.

U.S. Non Farm Payrolls

Jan 5, 8.30 a.m.

Jan 5, 1.30 p.m.

Jan 5, 9.30 p.m.

U.S. Inflation Numbers

Jan 11, 8.30 a.m.

Jan 11, 1.30 p.m.

Jan 11, 9.30 p.m.

China Inflation Rate YoY

Jan 11, 8.30 p.m.

Jan 12, 1.30 a.m.

Jan 12, 9.30 a.m.

China Balance of Trade

Jan 12, 10.00 p.m.

Jan 13, 3.00 a.m.

Jan 13, 11.00 a.m.

China Industrial Production YoY

Jan 16, 9.00 p.m.

Jan 17, 2.00 a.m.

Jan 17, 10.00 a.m.

U.S. Core PCE Price Index

Jan 26, 8.30 a.m.

Jan 26, 1.30 p.m.

Jan 26, 9.30 p.m.

China NBS Manufacturing PMI

Jan 30, 8.30 p.m.

Jan 31, 1.30 a.m.

Jan 31, 9.30 a.m.

U.S. Fed Interest Rate Decision and Fed Press Conference

Jan 31, 2.00 p.m.

Jan 31, 7.00 p.m.

Feb 1, 3.00 a.m.

China Caixin Manufacturing PMI

Jan 31, 8.45 p.m.

Feb 1, 1.45 a.m.

Feb 1, 9.45 a.m.

U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI

Feb 1, 10.00 a.m.

Feb 1, 3.00 p.m.

Feb 1, 11.00 p.m.

U.S. Non Farm Payrolls

Feb 2, 8.30 a.m.

Feb 2, 1.30 p.m.

Feb 2, 9.30 p.m.

China Inflation Rate YoY

Feb 7, 8.30 p.m.

Feb 8, 1.30 a.m.

Feb 8, 9.30 a.m.

U.S. Inflation Numbers

Feb 13, 8.30 a.m.

Feb 13, 1.30 p.m.

Feb 13, 9.30 p.m.

FOMC Minutes

Feb 21, 2.00 p.m.

Feb 21, 7.00 p.m.

Feb 22, 3.00 a.m.

U.S. Core PCE Price Index

Feb 29, 8.30 a.m.

Feb 29, 1.30 p.m.

Feb 29, 9.30 p.m.

China NBS Manufacturing PMI

Feb 29, 8.30 p.m.

Mar 1, 1.30 a.m.

Mar 1, 9.30 a.m.

China Caixin Manufacturing PMI

Feb 29, 8.45 p.m.

Mar 1, 1.45 a.m.

Mar 1, 9.45 a.m.

Source: CME Group, Quikstrike

Useful resources

Stay up-to-date with the latest probabilities of FOMC rate moves with the CME FedWatch Tool.

The Commitments of Traders (COT) tool can provide a comprehensive and highly configurable graphical representation of the CFTC's report on market open interest.

Build and test your trading strategies in a simulated environment with free pricing and analytics tools for CME Group markets. Choose from three ways to access exclusive, web-based tools developed by QuikStrike®.


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