Stimulus for economy boosts gold prices too RSBL

 After a weak November, gold once again strengthened this month over varied reasons. Gold recovered more than 5% since slumping to a five-month low on Nov. 30, with November also marking bullion's worst month in four years, pressured by hopes of a vaccine-fuelled economic recovery.  

Gold is revering from one of its most fierce sell-offs ever, after new breakthroughs in COVID-19 vaccines and their possible availability before the year end caused a run on money in safe-havens.

 November was the worst month for gold in this year. The yellow metal lost about 6% of its value in November, its most for a month since 2016 and fell into $1,700 territory. Investors have in recent weeks directed money mostly into stock markets and other risk assets such as oil, as those witnessed an epic rally amid the notion that vaccines and therapeutics would soon bring an end to the spread of the corona virus.

But December came in as a surprise for gold. Gold gained more than 1% to a two-week high on Monday, augmented by prospect of fresh fiscal stimulus in the United States. Despite the continued emphasis on risk, gold as a haven is rallying again on talk of a new U.S. Covid-19 stimulus efforts. Monday’s rally in gold was reignited by Congress’ aim to scrape together a corona virus relief package before the end of this week and prevent a lapse of benefits that could send millions of Americans spiralling further into financial peril at the end of the year.

Gold prices resumed their run higher, picking up from last week’s three-day rally, on signs that U.S. lawmakers were closing in on a fiscal deal to keep the government open and continue with pay check protection for millions of Americans stressed by the Covid-19. U.S. lawmakers sought to hammer out an agreement on infusing long-awaited relief through a $908 billion Covid relief package soon. 

Analysts and top gold dealers all around the world agreed that lawmakers aim to pass both pandemic aid and spending legislation before the government shuts down on Saturday. They will have to quickly resolve several sticking points to meet the deadline.

Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, have backed the plan as the basis for an emergency relief bill as a sustained Covid-19 infection surge stresses hospitals across the country. Republicans, who have a majority in the Senate, have indicated they will support the measure without specifying how much exactly in dollars and cents. Fresh restrictions might also we witnessed. 

The stimulus plan has helped stabilize the gold market because more money being pumped into the financial system is inflationary.

Gold prices typically rally in any stimulus or monetary expansion exercise.

Any kind of stimulus measure will result in rising inflation. And time and again gold has always been considered as a hedge against inflation. Any such situation will result in a rise in gold prices which has already gained 22% so far this year.

Apart from the stimulus package, important data was also released and many important numbers are yet to come this week. The US payrolls data had mixed statistics. While employment rates improved, there was dip in overall monthly payrolls compared to expectations. Now the falling USD at 90.7 is supporting precious metals. As mentioned last week by industry and RSBL spokesperson that gold at $1850-185, a crucial barrier and even in Friday it attempted $1852 and gave up later.  Gold made a good bounce back on Monday, hitting the precise $1865 and MCX above 50,000 in rupee terms. Gold looks positive and traders are still looking for dips to buy.

Furthermore, the US- Sino tiff continued as the United States imposed sanctions and a travel ban on 14 Chinese officials over their alleged role in Beijing's disqualification of elected opposition legislators in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Britain was set to become the first country to roll out the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine this week.

Historically, a rise in uncertainty and fear is the single biggest factor that leads to a spike in prices of gold as central banks increase the pace of gold purchase. If uncertainty around the pandemic propelled prices beyond Rs 57,000 per 10 grams in August (from around Rs 40,000 in January 2020), it should be remembered that it is not yet over, and is certainly not the last risk the world will see. Gold prices get impacted by several factors including geopolitical tensions, interest rate movements and change in value of the dollar with respect to other currencies.

Gold will be back soon

 The past week or for that matter, the month of November wasn’t that great for gold. . The price of the yellow metal plunged then from $1,840 to $1,780 last week. Actually, gold prices dropped from a local peak of $1,941.

On Friday, gold broke below the key $1,800 support level to reach 5-month lows. Gold prices plunged over economic recovery, hopes of quick vaccine availability and a smooth White House transition. These same reasons were responsible for pushing the share markets to new record highs.

Well let’s have a look over the reasons for this downside in gold- 

Covid-19 Vaccine- Well, it seems that the positive news of the vaccines eliminated the negative tail-risk related to the pandemic. In consequence, the safe-haven demand for gold declined.

Bit coins- On the other hand, the price of Bitcoin jumped recently as investors increased their risk appetites and diverted their attention from gold. 

US Election results- The elections results also reduced the uncertainty in the marketplace. In other words, the economic outlook is improving as the uncertainty clouds begin to part.

Smooth transition - President-elect Joe Biden announced the beginning of a formal transition of power from Trump’s administration to his. Biden also started to announce nominations for top positions, which served to reduce the risk that a contested election had for uncertainty among investors.

Fed Chief- there are rumours that Biden is likely to tap former Fed Chief Janet Yellen to become the next Treasury secretary. Investors know her and trust her, so they welcomed the possibility of her nomination for a key position in the new administration).

Fiscal Package prospects- Yellen, who is seen as a possible candidate for the Fed Chief post, is expected to be a great supporter of bigger government economic aid. Actually, she has for some time been calling for increased government spending to help combat the recession and has always been concerned about the labor markets, low participation rates and high unemployment. As well, as the former Fed Chief, Yellen will closely cooperate with the US central bank and will listen to the Fed’s calls for a fiscal package. She will, therefore, help sustain high government expenditure to assure that the labor market is recovering. Any for, of possible recovery has led to a downfall in gold prices. 

Top gold dealers in India believe now what we really need to focus on is the year end. There are many factors that will play a key role as 2020 comes to an end.  Gold may be bullish right now, but we have many other reasons that cannot be ignored and which can turn the table for gold. 

In the next few weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays, the market's attention will shift to how severe the COVID-19 restrictions will be, whether there will be any more stimuli this year, and what more can the Federal Reserve do to help, according to analysts. RSBL analysts confirmed that the market sentiment will be more likely influenced by news on the timing of a vaccine and concerns about a near-term intensification of Covid containment measures in the wake of Thanksgiving gatherings.

Any rise in cases will lead to a pressure on medical emergency services and will lead to further restrictions. Jobs markets have suffered due to curfew and these restrictions have been imposed in many parts of US. Further, new restrictions could harm the economic recovery, which is already struggling to recover. 

Furthermore, if we get some type of big move against the US dollar, that could have gold turning around as well. Central banks around the world will continue to throw liquidity at the markets ad this will definitely bring gold back into the market. 

The next phase of this bull cycle will rely on a lower U.S. dollar and this is really the main, key factor that will allow the price of gold to move much higher.