Head of Commodity Strategy
Summary: Gold’s ability to defy gravity amid rising US real yields continues and so far, any weakness below $1800 has quickly attracted fresh buying. As the headline suggests we see part of the renewed demand for gold being driven by investors seeking a hedge against inflation and not least against the current optimistic view that central banks will be successful in bringing down inflation. Adding to this the recent turmoil in bonds and stocks as well as a general strong investment demand for commodities.
Gold’s ability to defy gravity amid rising US real yields continues and so far, any weakness below $1800 has quickly attracted fresh buying. The most recent and biggest challenge was in the aftermath of last month’s FOMC meeting where a surprisingly hawkish change in tone sent the yellow metal sharply lower before a steady recovery has taken the price back to unchanged for the year. Gold’s small dip last year after averaging 21.7% the previous two years was driven by long liquidation from asset managers amid strong equity markets and low volatility as well as the belief rising inflation would turn out to be transitory, and not pose a longer-term threat to growth and price stability.
Towards the end of last year, a major change occurred at the US Federal Reserve after President Biden’s team likely made it clear the if Team Powell wanted to lead the Fed, it needed to focus on the +150 million Americans at work seeing their pay reduced every month in real terms by the Fed’s inaction on inflation, rather than focusing on maximizing accommodation to support the remaining few million unemployed in finding work. Both Powell and Brainard (the incoming Vice-Chair) complied and forcefully so and the hawkish shift in language helped send US ten-year real yields sharply higher while the market priced in a rapid succession of rate hikes, with more than five now priced in for 2022.
Since then gold, the most interest rate and dollar sensitive commodity has managed to withstand a 0.6% rise in US real yields. Apart from a small bid from current geopolitical concerns we see several other drivers emerging, some of which are highlighted below.
Gold has during the past few months been exhibiting rising immunity towards rising real yields with investors instead focusing on hedging their portfolios against the risk of slowing growth and with that falling stock market valuations as well as increased turbulence in the bond market. Even more aggressive rate hikes may end up being positive for gold as it will further raise the risk of a policy mistake from the Federal Reserve as it increases recessionary risks.
Gold’s credentials as an inflation hedge as well as a defensive asset have received renewed attention with rising stock and bond market volatility amid a market adjusting to a rising interest rate environment. At the same time, we believe inflation will remain elevated with rising input costs, wages and rentals being a few components that may not be lowered by rising interest rates. With this in mind gold is also increasingly being viewed as a hedge against the markets current optimistic view that central banks will be successful in bringing down inflation.
The commodity sector has shown renewed strength during the past year with strong fundamentals underpinning many individual commodities where several will be facing a prolonged period of a mismatch between rising demand and inelastic supply. With some of the worlds most tracked commodity indexes holding between 5 and 15% of their exposure in gold, any demand for a broad exposure to the commodity sector will automatically generate additional demand for gold.
While asset managers as seen in the ETF chart below are showing signs of renewed appetite, the price action has yet to trigger any increased interest from leveraged money managers who often focus more on momentum than fundamentals. In the week to February 1 they held a net long in COMEX gold futures of just 62,500 lots or 6.5 million ounces, some 78% below the record peak from 2019. Money managers focusing on momentum tend buy into strength and sell into weakness, and in order to attract increased demand from leveraged trading accounts, gold as a minimum needs to break above the 50% retracement of the 2020 to 2021 correction at $1876 which is also the 2021 high. In the other direction, failure to hold above $1750 may signal a deeper correction.
AI: The good, the bad, and the bubble
While a deep recession may not be iminent thanks to central bank policy, interest rates will have to stay high for longer, and this will be accompanied by volatility risk from the unwinding of bubbles, especially within AI.
Steen Jakobsen,
Chief Investment Officer
The emergence of advanced AI systems is by far the most surprising event this year, turning everything upside down, while risks and benefits are debated. AI will also become an arms race between the US and China.
Peter Garnry,
Head of Equity Strategy
As China navigates global fragmentation, its cycle of technology application, productivity enhancement, and growth is threatened by US breakthroughs in generative AI, limited computing power, and geopolitical tensions.
Redmond Wong,
Market Strategist
Japan’s expertise in semiconductors and robotic integration could be the foundation of AI dominance. Combining two of this year's themes, Japanese equities and artificial intelligence, brings a wave of opportunities.
Charu Chanana,
Market Strategist
The AI fever has turned the technology into a darling, pushing crypto further into no-man’s-land. There are striking similarities between AI and crypto, and if these are to come full circle, AI won't be spared for bubbles.
Mads Eberhardt,
Cryptocurrency Analyst
Stocks related to artificial intelligence (AI) have appeared on investors' radars. Expectations are high, but it may be necessary to consider how to get exposure to AI in a diversified way.
Hans Oudshoorn,
Trainer Academy
The USD is on its back foot as markets celebrate an eventual Fed rate peak and steady long US yields. The stakes are even higher for the Japanese yen if longer major sovereign yield curves have to price in economic acceleration.
John J. Hardy,
Head of FX Strategy
While commodities, broadly speaking, have faced some tough months, a partial reversal during June could signal that the asset class is getting back on its feet with energy holding up and precious metals with upside potential.
Ole S. Hansen,
Head of Commodity Strategy
As inflation remains high central banks face hard decisions about whether they should keep hiking interest rates or stop. Meanwhile, the rise of AI creates bubble-like conditions that only make the decision harder.
Althea Spinozzi,
Senior Fixed Income Strategist
