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General Market Commentary
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General Precious Metals
Gold tops $1,500 as investors seek shelter from gathering storm
Gold futures rallied above $1,500 an ounce on sustained demand for the traditional haven as the US-China trade war festers, global growth slows and central banks around the world ease monetary policy.
The precious metal rose as much as 1.2% to $1,502.30 an ounce on the Comex, the highest level since 2013. The move extends this year’s rise to 17%, with gains underpinned by inflows into exchange-traded funds. Silver also surged.
Gold has been one of the chief beneficiaries of the turmoil in global financial markets as Washington and Beijing spar over trade. In recent days, the Trump administration threatened fresh tariffs against Chinese goods, the yuan was allowed to sink, and the U.S. branded China as a currency manipulator. The stand-off has boosted the odds of more easing from the Federal Reserve.
“Gold is serving its traditional role as a safe-haven asset,” said Wayne Gordon, executive director for commodities and foreign exchange at UBS Group AG’s wealth management unit. Under the bank’s risk case, marked by a further escalation of the trade fight, prices could go as high as $1 600, he said.
Futures traded at $1,498.10 an ounce at 12:08 p.m. in Singapore, gaining for a fourth day. Miners’ shares climbed in Sydney, with Newcrest Mining Ltd. jumping as much as 4.1% while Evolution Mining added as much as 6.4%.
Silver, gold’s cheaper cousin, also surged. Spot prices rallied as much as 2.2% to $16.8082 an ounce, the highest in more than a year.
LOWER RATES
Last month, the Fed reduced borrowing costs for the first time in more than a decade, responding in part to the impact of the trade war. Lower rates boost the appeal of non-interest-bearing bullion. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. expects that there will be a total of three US rate reductions this year.
The latest escalation in the trade war has sent investors rushing to havens, pushing the world’s stockpile of negative-yielding bonds to a record, with the market value of the Bloomberg Barclays Global Negative Yielding Debt Index closing at $15.01-trillion Monday. The yield on 10-year Treasuries has tumbled.
Bullion has plenty of fans among veteran investors. Mark Mobius said in July prices were poised to top $1 500 as interest rates headed lower, declaring: “I love gold.” Billionaire hedge-fund manager Ray Dalio has suggested the market may just be at the start of a period that would be very positive for gold.