Is It Time To Go For Gold

Gold prices have tumbled in 2018, dropping, despite fears of a global trade war and turmoil in emerging-market economies. Such issues are risks that the market has mostly shrugged off, but the precious metal could be well positioned to provide some safety in the event those factors escalate and start to have a bigger impact on equities.

Gold is historically an asset class that does well during turbulent financial markets. As a safe-haven, the precious metal attracts risk-averse investors during such times. But when markets are doing fine, gold moves in a range, giving no gain for long periods of time.

But now many investors are rethinking on these lines and are shifting their focus on the yellow metal. Though gold has declined in the current year, lately it has shown dome positive developments.

Past week too gold was lying low till Thursday but gained momentum the following day. Gold prices slid on Thursday as investors purchased riskier assets instead of seeking a safe haven in gold, amid hopes for a new round of U.S.-China trade talks. Spot gold declined 0.3 percent to $1,202.30 per ounce during Thursdays trading hours, after earlier hitting its highest level since Aug. 28 at $1,212.49.

But after the economic numbers came in from U.S., gold prices gained rally.

Gold rose on Friday as the dollar faltered after softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data dimmed the case for a faster pace of policy tightening by the U.S. Federal Reserve, amid signs of movement in the Sino-U.S. trade standoff.  Spot gold was up 0.5 percent at $1,206.10 an ounce thus gaining 0.9 percent for the week. The main reason for this positive developments were-

• U.S. consumer prices rose less than expected in August
• Underlying inflation pressures also appeared to be slowing,
• Suggesting the Federal Reserve’s pace of rate hikes could slow.
• The data falling short of expectations, investors are thinking that the Fed may not go for a rate hike in December
• The dollar’s index against a basket of six major currencies was a shade lower at 94.442 after slipping to a session low of 94.427, a bottom since July 31.
• The months-long trade rift between Washington and Beijing has prompted investors to buy the U.S. dollar in the belief that the United States has less to lose from the dispute.

Now the current upward trend is propelling investors to once again make place for gold in their portfolio as it can be used tactically as a potential hedge for a stock market correction and/or a reversal in the dollar and real interest rates.  A reasonable 3 to 5 per cent of the portfolio can surely be allocated to gold.

It’s not only the investors, but leading banks and financial institutions that have also been adding up their gold reserves. Starting in 2008, central banks have been continuously adding gold to their reserves, though gradually and in relatively small amounts. In 2008 and 2009, such institutions added 580,000 and 210,000 ounces of the yellow metal (source- CPM data) and since then the reserves have been piling up, with around 11 million ounces getting purchased in 2017 and similar trend are expected this year too.

Russia too has been diversifying its monetary reserves. Most central banks are diversifying away from the dollar.

What’s even more interesting is that the RBI has bought 8.46 tonnes of gold in the financial year 2017-18. This was its very first purchase in almost nine pears. The last time RBI purchased gold was in Never 2009 when it has bought 200 tonne of yellow metal from the IMF.

Now currently domestic investors are thinking as to what to do with gold that has not given many gains in the last five years. Well the market experts believe that investors will be guided by expectations about where the Indian financial markets are headed and may give more though to gold in the coming months.

Though gold has not moved much over the past five years, some are still confused with the thought that with the current global trade wars and currencies dropping against the dollar is it time to go for gold?

Time To Add Gold In Your Portfolio

Gold has fallen more than 8% this year as concern about trade disputes; currency weakness in emerging markets and rising US interest rates has strengthened the dollar, making bullion more expensive for buyers with other currencies.

TRADE DISPUTE - Gold is trading back above $1,200/oz ahead of the expected announcement from the White House that China is about to get hit by additional tariffs on goods valued at up to $200 billion. The latest US trade balance for July showed the US in the red by $50.1 billion while the trade deficit with China rose to a fresh record of $36.8 billion.

Investors have been waiting for a fresh round to be fired in the Sino-U.S. trade war after a public comment period for proposed U.S. tariffs on a list of $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, which includes some consumer products, ended late last week.

With his domestic agenda being challenged by the upcoming midterm elections, less-than-flattering comments from White House insiders, and the ongoing Mueller investigation, President Trump is unlikely to step back from his fight with the Chinese.

The prospect of an escalated trade war continues to make matters worse for emerging market bonds, stocks and currencies.

The trade war and its effect on the USD/CNY exchange rate remains the primary determinant of Gold prices in dollar terms. Until either the trade war ends or the dollar falls, either of its own accord or due to a Fed reversal in policy, USD/CNY is likely to go higher and gold lower.

The escalating trade war crisis continued to spill its effect on gold in the past week too. Gold prices rose on Friday due to a lower dollar and jitters about an escalation in the U.S.-China trade dispute after fresh threats by President Donald Trump, although bullion is still heading for its fifth straight monthly decline.

Spot gold was up 0.6 percent at $1,206.19 an ounce during Fridays trading hours- a gain of 4 percent from the 19-month low of $1,159.96 hit on Aug. 16.



CURRENCY WEAKNESS - Lately positive U.S. economic numbers have been showing signs of a strengthening U.S economy. This has further strengthened the dollar against major basket of currencies. In India too rupee was at a record low of 72.17, sliding by 44 paise against the US dollar on rising demand from US dollars by bankers and importers.

Like the trade war, the dollar prices continued to show its effect on gold this week too.
The dollar traded higher against a basket of currencies on Monday amid fears of a potentially major escalation in the China-U.S. trade conflict, while Sweden's crown rose following the previous day's election.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Friday that he was ready to slap tariffs on virtually all Chinese imports into the United States, threatening duties on another $267 billion of goods in addition to the $200 billion already facing the risk of duties.

The index also found support after data showed U.S. jobs growth accelerated in August and wages notched their largest annual increase in more than nine years, boosting the prospect of faster interest rate rises by the Federal Reserve.

Non-Farm payrolls led to some modest downward pressure on gold. Furthermore, though the dollar will continue to weigh on gold, and as long as the dollar is strong, gold will remain constrained.

RISING INTEREST RATES - Gold prices held steady during Asian trade on Tuesday as investors remained on the sidelines amid expectations of a U.S. interest rate hike this month and on fears of an escalation in the Sino-U.S. trade war.

Strong U.S. payrolls data last week cemented expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in September, in what would be its third hike this year, with expectations of one rise more in December.

Higher rates increase bond yields, making the non-yielding bullion less attractive and tend to boost the dollar.

Now what’s interesting to note is that though gold is being hammered lately, financial advisors in Asia, are suggesting their clients that this is the right time to include gold in their portfolio. They have been asking them to take advantage of dips and to stockpile to protect assets against pounding equity markets.

Gold has sold off over the past few months as USD interest rates have increased, so there is more opportunity to buy. For clients who do not have an allocation of gold in their portfolios, now is the time to add gold.