Cross Currency Table – (Bloomberg)

Gold is targeting $1,700/oz after yesterday’s Bernanke QE hints and today’s urging by the OECD to boost the Eurozone ‘firewall’ by another $1.3 trillion.

Gold is consolidating on yesterday’s gains today above the 200 day moving average (simple) at $1,687/oz after yesterday’s biggest daily gain since January. The gains came after Ben Bernanke warned of the risks to the fragile US economic recovery and signalled the Fed would keep interest rates low and further debase the dollar – boosting gold’s inflation hedging appeal.

Gold is also likely being supported by the OECD’s warning that the debt crisis is far from over. The OECD said today that the euro zone's public debt crisis is not over despite calmer financial markets this year and warned that Europe's banks remain weak,  fiscal targets are far from assured and debt levels are still rising.

The OECD said that the eurozone needs to boost crisis ‘firewalls’ to at least $1.3 trillion. Gold likes the ‘trillion’ word and talk of ‘trillions’ and will be supported by the risk of the creation of trillions of more euros, pounds and dollars in the coming months.

Gold 1 Year Chart – (Bloomberg)

Bernanke confirmed what we and more bearish analysts have been saying for some time - that the US’s rate and nature of unemployment continues to hinder any real growth in the world’s largest economy and the labour markets are worrisome compared to prior recessions.

Although the employment rate appears to be shrinking the labour participation rate (number of job seekers) has dropped off. The reason is that people are remaining out of work longer - 40% of people out of work for greater than six months, while only 25% in previous downturns.  The longer workers remain out of the labour force, there is an increased probability that the housing sector will continue to drag– adding to a stagnant economy.

Bernanke said ultra loose monetary policy was still needed and he again hinted another round of QE including asset purchases. This is almost inevitable despite the recent suggestion by Bernanke that it is not.

Monday's rally was the reverse of what gold experienced on February 29, when the metal posted its biggest one-day drop in more than 3 years after Bernanke suggested that there would be no further bond buying and QE.

Bernanke is bluffing which is bullish for gold and means that gold’s recent correction may be soon to come to a close – especially as the fundamentals remain as compelling as ever.

India’s Financial and Cultural Affinity and Love Affair With Gold
 Analysts continue to evaluate the impact of the Indian gold jewellers strike.

Indian jewellers are on strike to protest against a government levy on gold and the strike is entering its 11th day in most parts of India. It has brought gold imports to a near standstill from the world's biggest buyer of bullion in the peak wedding season.  

The Indian government for the second time in 2012 doubled the import tax on gold coins and bars to 4% along with an excise duty of 0.3 percent on unbranded jewellery.

A Reuters poll of analysts shows the belief that India's gold import duty increase may cut gold imports by as much as a third in 2012 to their lowest level in two years, allowing China to overtake it and become the world's biggest buyer of bullion.

However, many analysts wrongly asserted that Indian demand was not sustainable at $1,000/oz and said Indian demand would fall one prices rose above $1,000/oz in 2009. They badly underestimated the Indian propensity to save in gold as a store of value over their fiat rupee in Indian banks and mattresses.

Already there is speculation that while official demand figures may fall there may again be a sharp increase in smuggling of gold into India from neighbouring Asian countries and from Dubai and the Middle East.

India’s financial and cultural affinity and love affair with gold will not end due to government taxes and they will continue to prudently buy the dips.

XAU-EUR 1 Year Chart – (Bloomberg)

OTHER NEWS
(Bloomberg) -- COMMODITIES DAYBOOK: Gold Rises on Bernanke Policy Statement
 Gold futures rose the most in four weeks after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said accommodative monetary policy is still needed to bolster the U.S. labor market.

(Bloomberg) -- Gold May Re-Test $1,550 in Second Quarter, Deutsche Bank Says
Gold may fall to as low as $1,550 an ounce in the second quarter before resuming its long-term gains, Deutsche Bank AG said in an e-mailed report today.

(Bloomberg) -- Jewelers in India Extend Strike to 11th Day to Protest Taxes
Jewelers in India, the world’s biggest buyer of gold, extended a nationwide strike demanding the withdrawal of a tax on non-branded jewelry to 11th day, a trade group said.

“We are expecting a positive decision from the government in the next 48 hours,” Bachhraj Bamalwa, chairman of the All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation, said in a phone interview today.

The federation also wants the government to reduce the import duty on gold and abolish the 1 percent tax on cash purchases of gold in excess of 200,000 rupees, Bamalwa said.

(Bloomberg) -- Crude Oil Gains After Bernanke Calls for Looser Monetary Policy
Oil advanced for a second day in New York after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said accommodative monetary policy is needed to lower unemployment, making commodities a more attractive investment. Futures rose 16 cents after Bernanke said further improvement in the job market will require keeping the central bank’s interest rates low. Oil dropped earlier on concern that Europe’s debt crisis will slow growth. Trading volume was near the lowest level of the year.

For breaking news and commentary on financial markets and gold, follow us on Twitter.

NEWS
(Reuters) -- Gold eases after rally; Bernanke boosts sentiment‎
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/27/markets-precious-idUSL3E8ER0AP20120327

(Bloomberg) -- Dollar Trades Near Lowest This Month Against Euro on Fed Stimulus Talk
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-26/dollar-trades-near-lowest-this-month-versus-euro-on-fed.html

(The Australian) -- Gold may crack $US2000 price on demand in China, India‎
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/gold-may-crack-us2000-price-on-demand-in-china-india/story-e6frg9df-1226311543673

(MarketWatch) -- AngloGold CEO: Gold could top $2,000/oz. this year
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/anglogold-ceo-gold-could-top-2000oz-this-year-2012-03-27

COMMENTARY
(Zero Hedge) -- Video- On The Price Of Gold
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/price-gold

(King World News) -- Embry - Massive QE Near as System Moves Closer to Collapse
http://kingworldnews.com/kingworldnews/KWN_DailyWeb/Entries/2012/3/26_Embry_-_Massive_QE_Near_as_System_Moves_Closer_to_Collapse.html

(Perth Mint Bullion) -- Fake Bars - The Facts
http://www.perthmintbullion.com/blog/blog/12-03-26/Fake_Bars_-_The_Facts.aspx

(Zero Hedge) -- "We Have Entered The Most Favourable Era For Gold Prices In Our Lifetime”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/tim-price-we-have-entered-most-favourable-era-gold-prices-our-lifetime%E2%80%9D

(GoldSeek) -- Ron Paul: A Fistful of Euros
http://news.goldseek.com/RonPaul/1332776938.php

(YouTube) -- CBS: Global Bank Network – SWIFT - Ready to Cut Iran
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0g6KlTfr0c&feature=youtu.be

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-- Posted Tuesday, 27 March 2012 | Digg This Article