You asked, we answered: Does gold qualify as an HQLA under Basel III?
Weekly Markets Monitor: Relative market calm
Gold: an HQLA in all but name
In recent months, amid trade policy uncertainty, financial markets experienced a decidedly volatile period marked by sharp declines in stock prices. Against this backdrop, gold showed itself to be a highly liquid and orderly market that mitigates market risk in a manner often associated with High-Quality Liquid Assets (HQLAs). During this period, gold’s volatility, bid-ask spreads, and trading volumes were equivalent to and, in some cases, better than intermediate and long-term US Treasuries.
Weekly Markets Monitor: Risks up again
Trade tensions flared up again last week amid a mixed global economic backdrop, with activities in the US, China, and India showing signs of strength, while Europe and Japan lagged. China cut rates while the US House passed a bill to extend tax cuts and spend more.
Weekly Markets Monitor: Risk premium down
Last week, optimism from a US – China tariff truce and easing inflation was tempered by slower US spending, a sharp drop in China’s bank lending, and Japan’s economic slowdown, even as Europe posted strong growth. Moody’s became the last of the three ratings agency to downgrade the credit rating of the US late on Friday. While the technical fallout may be minimal, it could usher in a sentiment hit on Monday.
India's gold market update: Gains hold despite demand pressure
Stability in prices could prompt a resurgence in demand. Consumer sentiment that the downside to gold prices is limited would reinforce gold’s appeal as a reliable investment.
China gold market update: Unseen investment passion
Continued gold price strength and the US-China trade tensions pushed Chinese gold ETF demand to a record high in April. Gold futures trading activities in Shanghai also surged to unseen levels. Wholesale demand improved and the PBoC announced another gold purchase.
