Research

Throughout April, gold remained among the best performing assets in 2022 up 5% in US dollar terms – yet it ended the month 1.6% lower at US$1,911/oz.

Geopolitical crisis takes centre stage in February

Gold may face similar dynamics in 2022 than those from last year as competing forces support and curtail its performance. 

Gold rose 2% in November based on the LBMA reference price, rallying early in the month before giving up most of those gains in the following weeks.

Gold rose slightly in October, despite a risk-on environment and increases in short-term bond yields 

Gold fell in September by 4% to around US$1,743/oz. This was the second consecutive month of declines, with gold now over 8% lower y-t-d. Gold wasn’t alone. Treasuries, Corporates, US- and non-US equities all fell in September possibly as a result of deleveraging. The Q2 level of margin debt for equities was at a record high. It would be understandable if some leverage has been removed as we head into the historically volatile month of October. And it’s quite possible that this de-leveraging has affected most assets (energy and industrial metals excepted).

Transitory or not, inflation is already impacting consumers

Gold fell slightly during August, down 0.6% in US dollars, on modestly firmer interest rates following strong US jobs data.

Equity yields support gold as investors position for historical September strength

Inflation fears and momentum ignite gold

Gold registered healthy positive returns for the second consecutive month, erasing the losses accumulated during Q1. Gold ended May at US$1,899.95/oz – its highest level since January and back above its 200-day moving average – representing a 7.5% m-o-m increase.

Inflation, falling yields and the US dollar pushed gold higher

Marking a turnaround from the first three months of the year, gold rebounded 4.5% in April to finish the month at US$1,768/oz - its highest monthly closing level since January and its first positive monthly return since December 2020.