GENERAL MARKET CONDITIONS

The IMF has reduced its global growth target for 2008 to 4.1% from 4.9% yesterday. The IMF has lowered China’s 2008 growth forecast to 10% from previously 11.40%. China is the biggest guzzler of base metals. The current base metals prices to a certain extent reflect slowdown in global growth. However if actual results come in lower than expected then expect another phase of hammering by the bears in base metals. Lower global growth in 2008 accompanied by higher prices of essential commodities implies greater investment interest in precious metals and soft commodities and less investment in equities. Gold will continue to rise with very high volatility.

Copper and other base metals shot up on expectations that Fed interest rate cuts will prevent the US economy from slowing down. Base metals have risen partly due to short covering and some long position building ahead of the Fed cut. Expect more gains in base metals today.

Traders prefer to go long in gold, silver and crude oil while they are going short on the US dollar before the Fed meeting. Apart from the 0.25%/0.50% interest rate cut, traders have started betting in the options markets on what will be the Fed funds rate towards the close of the year whether it will be 2.25% or 1.25%. After this week most of the interest rate sensitive risk will be over. It will be another volatile day, but gold and silver will find support at lower levels.

COPPER -- MARCH FUTURE -- INTRA DAY PIVOT: $327.0

Only a break of $338 will result in $347 and $360 in the short term. Initial support at $328.60

NYMEX CRUDE OIL -- FUTURE -- INTRA DAY PIVOT: $89.24

A break of $93.20 will result in $95 and more. On the lower side as long as $90.20 holds downside will be limited.

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