Is Gold About to Surge? Watch the Dollar and Yield Curve.

2 days ago
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An analyst on Kitco recently said, “Rate cuts, yield curve risks and a weaker dollar could push gold higher.” Most of us understand why rate cuts are good for gold, but what about the other two factors? In this video, we break down exactly how the yield curve and the strength of the US dollar create a powerful setup for gold prices. 📈

What is Yield Curve Risk? 📉
The yield curve is a graph that shows the interest rates on government bonds with different maturity dates. Normally, you get paid a higher interest rate for lending your money for a longer time (a 10-year bond vs. a 2-year bond).

The Problem: "Yield curve risk" often refers to an inverted yield curve. This is an unusual situation where short-term bonds pay a higher interest rate than long-term bonds.

Why it Matters: An inverted yield curve is one of history's most reliable predictors of an economic recession. It signals that investors are worried about the near-term economy and are rushing to lock in their money for the long term, even at lower rates.

The Gold Connection: When fears of a recession rise, investors flee from riskier assets (like stocks) and flock to safe-haven assets. Gold is the ultimate historical safe haven. Therefore, an inverted yield curve signals economic storm clouds, which drives demand for gold and pushes its price higher.

How Does a Weaker Dollar Help Gold? 💵
Gold is priced in US dollars ($USD) all around the world. This creates a simple but powerful inverse relationship.

It Becomes Cheaper for the World: When the US dollar weakens against other currencies (like the Euro, Yen, or Pound), it takes fewer of those currencies to buy one ounce of gold. This makes gold cheaper for foreign investors, which increases global demand and drives up the dollar-denominated price.

Gold as an Alternative: The US dollar is the world's primary reserve currency. When it loses value, it erodes confidence in paper money. Investors and even central banks look for a more reliable store of value to protect their wealth. Gold has served this purpose for thousands of years, making it the go-to alternative when the dollar falters.

So, when you hear an analyst mention these three factors together, they're describing a perfect storm for gold:

Rate Cuts: Lowering the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold.

Yield Curve Risk: Signaling a recession, which boosts gold's safe-haven appeal.

Weaker Dollar: Making gold cheaper for foreign buyers and increasing its appeal as a stable store of value.

Do you think these factors will align for a new gold rally? Let us know in the comments below!

Connect with Alasdair Macleod:
https://x.com/MacleodFinance
https://substack.com/@macleodfinance

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