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Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

​​​​Gold price rallies while oil & natural gas prices struggle

​​While gold is moving higher to start the week, oil prices and natural gas prices have seen a more mixed morning of trading.

Gold Source: Bloomberg

​​​Gold marches higher

​The price is making headway to the upside this morning, building on the strong finish to last week.

​​Last week saw the price bounce off the 50-day simple moving average (SMA), forming a higher low and reviving the uptrend. Friday saw the price close above trendline resistance from the late-December high, bolstering the bullish short-term narrative.

​​A close back below $2030 would negate this, while a drop back below the 50-day SMA points towards the possibility of additional short-term weakness.

Spot Gold Source: ProRealTime
Spot Gold Source: ProRealTime

​Surge in Brent crude knocked back

​The volatility in crude oil prices continues. Friday witnessed a spike to $80 for Brent, in anticipation of the US/UK military action against the Houthis in Yemen.

​However, the spike was short-lived, and the close below the 50-day SMA sends a potentially bearish signal. Sellers now need to follow through on this with a break below $75 that will open the way to the lows of December.

​Buyers have been unable to hold on to gains over the past few months, and in the short-term a close above $80 and then the late December high at $81.40 would provide a short-term bullish view.

Brent crude daily chart Souce: ProRealTime
Brent crude daily chart Souce: ProRealTime

​Natural Gas gaps lower

​After the surge from the December lows, the price has hit a road block, slumping back to the 200-day SMA, though leaving the uptrend from the lows of December intact.

​A close below 2670 would be needed to break trendline support from mid-December, which would reinforce the view that a lower high has been created. This might then renew the downtrend from early-November and put the lows of late December in play.

​Renewed strength targets last week’s highs around 2975, and a close above 3000 marks a fresh bullish development.

Natural Gas daily chart Source: ProRealTime
Natural Gas daily chart Source: ProRealTime

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