Investors mantra - Stay Calm

Gold has lost around $30/oz. in less than one week as the US dollar charge continues. Last week’s FOMC meeting confirmed that US interest rates will continue to climb this year and next, while the Democrats’ victory in the House of Representatives is being taken as a USD positive so far, as it makes US President Trump more accountable for his actions. The precious metal was also unable to pick up a risk-off bid after US and Asian stock markets crumbled overnight on tech - mainly due to Apple - and worries that US-China trade wars may escalate.

Apart from the above mentioned acts, the way things are going- default concerns and inflation expectations are rather low by historical standards. As a result, financial markets could take a hard hit if investors ever wake up and demand a higher price for accepting credit and/or inflation risk. Such a scenario could make holding gold a particularly interesting option.

The recent weakness in gold is not over. In fact, we are worried about another leg down getting underway. While some believe that gold is moving to the bears there are some players in the market who still believe that gold prices will rally in the near future. Long term investors and speculation are making a shift from a bear to a bull market. Their belief is strongly supported by a few factors which these market players expected to occur soon-

• First and foremost, the current gold price does not seem to be high and there is a lot of scope for recovery till it reaches its all time high
• In a risk-on scenario, there is a good chance that the gold price will move up
• Bargain hunting and weakness in equities, such as the sharp fall in U.S. stock market on are helping put a floor under gold during the metal’s recent slide. The fact that gold has not fallen further “is probably due to the correction on the stock markets, which has made gold attractive as an alternative investment
• Oiling of gold reserves is a clear indicator that central banks do not want to be dollar dependent. A gold driven economy will definitely raise the demand for the yellow metal and furthermore its prices.
• Gold is the only financial asset that’s not simultaneously somebody else’s liability. Hence the liking for this metal always remains high.
• With uncertain world financial assets, there’s an excellent chance there’s going to be a volatile markets and hopefully a one that favors gold.

Currently we see investors acting very calm in the market. Maybe they await a strong and concrete signal from the global markets to get back into action mode.

December likely to be more volatile

Just when gold had become investor’s favorites, it started losing sheen. Friday, Gold closed at a one-week low amid investors shifting to riskier assets on the back of a higher dollar and the Federal Reserve's policy statement.

Gold eased to a one-week low on Thursday, as a recovery in the dollar and improved appetite for riskier assets pushed investors away from bullion.

Spot gold fell 0.13 percent to $1,224.09 per ounce, after touching its lowest since Nov. 1 at $1,219.59 Just when gold had become investor’s favorites, it started losing sheen. Friday, Gold closed at a one-week low amid investors shifting to riskier assets on the back of a higher dollar and the Federal Reserve's policy statement.

Gold eased to a one-week low on Thursday, as a recovery in the dollar and improved appetite for riskier assets pushed investors away from bullion.

Spot gold fell 0.13 percent to $1,224.09 per ounce, after touching its lowest since Nov. 1 at $1,219.59 earlier during the day.

Gold prices fell to their lowest in a week on Friday, and were set for their biggest weekly fall since August, on a firmer dollar as the U.S. Federal Reserve indicated they will continue to raise interest rates, lowering demand for bullion.

In the past fortnight we saw the dollar going week on the belief that losses for U.S. President Donald Trump's Republican Party in the midterm elections would make further fiscal stimulus measures unlikely.

But it didn’t take too long for the dollar to get back into action. The dollar has mounted a significant rally. Many reasons were cited for this bounce back-

• The Fed kept interest rates steady on Thursday
• It reaffirmed its monetary tightening stance.
• Robust U.S. economy kept the currency underpinned
• Investors positioned for a Federal Reserve interest rate rise next month
• Political risks in Europe put pressure on the euro and the pound.
• Fears about a no-deal Brexit gave dollar the push
• Growing rift in Europe over Italy's budget
• Reload of long dollar positions by investors
• Vulnerability of European currencies
• Weakening of the Euro over concerns about Rome's tussle with the European Commission over its 2019 budget
• Weakness in Italy's banking sector
• The melancholy in Europe has been good news for dollar
• Easing of China-U.S. trade tensions
• Weak China data
• Weakening euro zone economy is expected to trigger further euro-selling pressure.


All these factors clubbed together strengthened the dollar and hence the dollar rallied to a 16-month high on Monday.

The dollar extended its recovery following a sigh of relief across markets after the U.S. midterm election results, and as investors turned their attention towards the Fed.

Gold has always been keeping a watch on the dollar and moving accordingly. Currently too it is dollar-watching and keeping an eye on the interest rate decisions. Gold has come under pressure because of a stronger dollar. Also the FOMC meeting showed no change in the interest rates. Gold might turn to the bears as any news that is positive for the U.S. dollar and the U.S economy as a whole will bring about a fall in the yellow metal and push prices down.

A lot is expected to happen by the end of year and these activities will sure create volatility on a global level. Ongoing trade disputes. Escalating Saudi- Arabian tensions and Brexit are all in line to occur. December is likely to be more volatile and hence a lot is expected to happen as we get closer to end the year.