Quarterly Outlook
Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun
Peter Garnry
Chief Investment Strategist
Head of Commodity Strategy
Gold's record-breaking rise continues ahead of the US election, seen as a major risk event that could trigger a market reaction, especially if results differ from expectations of a Trump victory. Gold is up 5% this month and 34% on the year, second only to silver, which has surged 42.3%. These rallies prompt concern over potential unsustainable gains and a possible peak.
Currently, gold and silver show no euphoria—only strong rallies as investors seek safe assets amid concerns over fiscal instability, safe-haven demand, geopolitical tensions, de-dollarisation driving strong demand from central banks, Chinese investors turning to gold amid record-low savings rates, and recently, as mentioned, increased uncertainties surrounding the US presidential election safe-haven demand, geopolitical tensions, central bank de-dollarization, and increased demand from Chinese investors due to low savings rates and property market concerns. Additionally, rate cuts by the Fed and other central banks are reducing the cost of holding non-interest-bearing assets like gold and silver.
It is also worth noting the lack of response to the Middle East de-escalation seen in crude oil prices—which slumped the most in two years on Monday—leading us to conclude that the latest strength is increasingly being seen as a hedge against a potential “Red Sweep” at the 5 November US election, where one political party, in this case, the Republicans, controls both the White House and Congress. This scenario has lifted US bond yields amid concerns about excessive government spending, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio higher, while fuelling inflation fears through tariffs on imports as well as geopolitical risks.
Besides the election, the market maintains a steadfast belief that the US Federal Reserve will announce a 25 basis-point rate cut at the 7 November meeting, further supporting demand in gold-backed ETFs. Following two years of net selling, total holdings in bullion-backed ETFs hit a low point in May before Western ETF investors finally returned as buyers, having been net sellers since the Federal Reserve began its aggressive rate-hiking campaign back in 2022. Read more about demand trends in the just published “Gold Demand Trends Q3 2024” from the World Gold Council.
Nothing ever goes in a straight line, and having rallied as much as it has, gold can still run into a deep correction—potentially after 5 November should the election result not deliver the keys to the White House and Congress to one party. However, as long as the mentioned reasons for holding gold do not go away, the prospect for even higher prices remains. With that in mind, we see the risk of a USD 100+ correction next week; however, as per the chart below, a correction will find support at USD 2,685, while a break below USD 2,600 is likely needed to trigger an even bigger move, which at that point would be led by long liquidation from hedge funds holding a 24-million-ounce long in the futures market.
Recent commodity articles:
22 Oct 2024: Podcast: The Trump trade enters the metal market
21 Oct 2024: COT: Dollar shorts squeezed; Shift in commodity exposure from energy to metals
18 Oct 2024: Commodity weekly: Gold's record-breaking run continues
17 Oct 2024: Copper prices decline amid doubts about China stimulus impact
16 Oct 2024: How high can gold and silver rally?
8 Oct 2024: Podcast: Navigating market shifts: Fed rate cuts, commodities and rising food prices
8 Oct 2024: Video: These commodities might be impacted by the US election
7 Oct 2024: Crude oil surge caps strong four-week rally for commodities
7 Oct 2024: COT: Broad buying momentum persists, led by Brent, copper and grains
2 Oct 2024: Q3 2024 Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright
30 Sept 2024: COT: Fed and PBOC trigger largest weeklyl surge in commodities demand in a decade
27 Sept 2024: Commodity weekly: Industrial metals gain strength during a week of crude weakness
26 Sept 2024: Crude prices drop again as Saudi and Libya supply concerns grow
24 Sept 2024: Fed and PBOC add momentum to commodities market rebound
23 Sept 2024: COT: Dollar short reduced; Investment metals see strong demand ahead of FOMC
20 Sept 2024: Commodity weekly: Commodities boosted by bumper rate cut
20 Sept 2024 Video: Gold or silver, which metal will perform the best
17 Sept 2024: With gold reaching new heights, silver shows potential
16 Sept 2024: COT: Record short Brent and gas oil positions add upside risks to energy
11 Sept 2024: Crude slumps amid technical selling and recession fears
10 Sept 2024: US Election: will gold win in all scenarios
9 Sept 2024: COT: Crude long cut to 12-year low; Dollar short more than doubling
5 Sept 2024: Can gold overcome the 'September curse'?
4 Sept 2024: Wheat rises on European crop worries
3 Sept 2024: Chinese economic woes drag down crude oil and copper
2 Sept 2024: COT: Commodities see broad demand as the USD slumps to a net short
Disclaimer
The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.
Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-gb/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)