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Gold – March or October 2008?

Yellow brick road extending into the horizon

Last week, I said: “The big picture remains the same: When the Fed reverts to QE and the dollar tanks, Gold and everything else will soar. I believe a return to QE is inevitable at this point.” Any reversals in Gold present the final opportunity to “BTFD”.

Well, the Fed took a huge step forward in that regard yesterday. They announced:

  • No further interest rate hikes in 2019.
  • Balance sheet reduction program will end in September, earlier than anticipated.
  • Economic growth outlook has been downgraded.

They are inching their way towards rate cuts and a return to QE. However, in order for that to occur, the Fed will likely need an excuse, such as a sizeable pullback in stocks or another ~20% dump in stocks.

Bear markets are deflationary in nature and tend to drag down all markets, including Gold, just as they did from March to October 2008, when Gold fell 30% from $1000 to $700. The Bullion Banks may relish such an opportunity to slam Gold down one more time.

However, Gold bottomed in October 2008, six months in advance of the QE’s inception in March, and didn’t look back until it had risen almost three times in three years to $1900. Gold didn’t wait around for QE to occur, it anticipated it and the 15% decline in the dollar index from 88 to 75 that ensued.

So the question is, where is Gold now? In March 2008 or October 2008?

Let’s review the data in hand…

TECHNICALS

Daily: Gold has still not closed above key resistance at 1316 despite its bounce off 1280 support. The RSI is around a neutral 50. The extreme oversold condition in the MACD Histogram has been fully corrected back to zero, also neutral. The MACD Line is around zero also. Nothing to see here.

Weekly: Gold has still not broken back above weekly trendline resistance. Backtesting it now. The RSI has fallen back from an extreme overbought 71 to 55 and has now risen back up to 61. It could fall from here or could provide the opportunity for a negatively divergent higher high above 1350 before heading lower. The weekly MACD Histogram has corrected its overbought condition back to near zero. Meanwhile, the MACD Line is deciding which way to turn, up or down. Again, unfortunately, nothing definitive here.

The current range for Gold is 1280-1316, or 1280-1350 on a wider basis. A break of 1280 opens up a move down to the 200-day or 200-week moving average, currently at 1251 and 1241 respectively. A break of 1316 portends a test of 1350 and perhaps even 1377. Until one side or the other is broken on a closing basis, all else is noise.

SENTIMENT

The spot DSI peaked at 90 on February 19, the day “before” Gold peaked at 1350. It fell to 51 at 1280 and is now back up to 72. It could go either way from here.

The same goes for the 21-day moving average. However, it did peak at 73.7 on February 27, below its peak of 80.5 at 1365 back in January 2018. It has turned down since, but that would change if Gold continues higher.

What is interesting from a long-term perspective is that the lowest levels in the 21-day moving average were at the three major lows in Gold since December 2015: 1045, 1124, and 1167. Higher lows. Meanwhile, the top side has been capped between 1360-1370. This suggests the next big move is up, consistent with QE and a weaker dollar courtesy of the Fed. Only a close below 1184 and a break of 1167 negates this expectation.

POSITIONING

Last week, I stated, “Bullion Banks Appear Ready to Slam Gold Imminently,” based on a massive one week increase in open interest of 60k contracts. I shared that this had only occurred on three prior occasions in 1040 weeks, and each time it reflected a sharp increase in Commercial short contracts and a subsequent drop in Gold of ~$100. We got a drop of $20 immediately thereafter, but it turned out to be a red herring. Commercials did not increase their shorts, they reduced them by 5k.

Although this undermined the immediate downside scenario, the Bullion Banks could still try to squeeze out all of the weak longs, as in March-October 2008, before the massive rally to follow. At the same time, they do not want to be caught short going into such a rally, which may explain why they are reluctant to become significantly short. When Gold started to rally in 1999, several trading houses (as Bullion Banks were called back then) had to be rescued by the Bank of England when, under orders from Gordon Brown, they were told to sell Gold bullion into the market to drive down the price. They did just that, and Gold hit a low that has since come to be known as the “Brown Bottom.” We’ve never looked back since. The point being that even if the Banks do try to force everyone out before the rally ahead, it will likely create the last bargain buying opportunity in metals, perhaps ever. “BTFD”.

Having reviewed the positioning in all of the disaggregated COT data categories at all of the major peaks and troughs going back to 2006, they are all within the ranges for a major low, except open interest, of course. None of them are in peak territory.

For example, Money Managers or “Funds” were net long just 17k contracts of 3% of open interest on March 12. Both are closer to the minimum long levels for a trough in Gold, which is very bullish for Gold, and well below the average position for a major low. At the same time, the current position as of March 12 was below the minimum and miles away from the average long position for a peak in Gold, also bullish.

The same data for the Commercials, Banks, Producers, etc. all say the same thing. This suggests that we are closer to the October 2008 scenario for Gold next, short-term reversals aside.

INTER-MARKET ANALYSIS

Gold has been following bond yields and real interest rates very closely since November.

  • Real Interest Rates = Nominal Yields - Inflation (CPI)
  • 5-Year TIPS Yield = 5-Year U.S. Treasury Yield - Inflation (CPI)
  • 5-Y TIPS Yield = 5Y Real Interest Rate

As bond yields fall while the CPI remains the same, ~2%, real interest rates fall. TIPS, or Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, rise in price as their yield, or real interest rates, fall. The correlation between TIPS and Gold is close to perfect on an inverse basis.

This has been primarily due to the continued drop in bond yields. The Fed is pausing interest rate hikes for the rest of the year and ending balance sheet reduction in September. It has also been talking about emergency measures to be taken when the next crisis hits, including rate cuts and a return to QE, plus allowing inflation to rise above 2%. Higher inflation with lower interest rates and bond yields would even lower real interest rates. The worst-case scenario for the dollar and the best scenario for Gold.

Simply put, the further real interest rates fall, the higher Gold is likely to go. This further supports the bullish view for far higher Gold prices later this year and next, short-term reversals aside.

CONCLUSION

The risk of a short-term sharp reversal in Gold prices remains, in conjunction with another stock market sell-off and an attempt by the Bullion Banks to squeeze out all of the weak longs before the rally to follow. Similar to the period from March to October 2008.

However, the ongoing change in Fed policy towards monetary stimulus on steroids, the current positioning data, and falling real interest rates all suggest that we’re closer to October 2008 than March 2008, and the risk-reward in precious metals is heavily skewed to the upside over the next few months and years.

Central Banks continue to buy Gold on the cheap at the fastest pace since at least 1971. They know what is coming. Just follow the smart money.

Don’t miss a golden opportunity.

Now that you’ve gained a deeper understanding about gold, it’s time to browse our selection of gold bars, coins, or exclusive Sprott Gold wafers.

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About the Author

David Brady has worked for major banks and corporate multinationals in Europe and the U.S. He has close to thirty years of experience managing multi-billion dollar portfolios including foreign currency, cash, bonds, equities, and commodities. David is also a CFA charter holder since 2004.

Using his extensive experience, he developed his own process utilizing multiple tools such as fundamental analysis, inter-market analysis, positioning, Elliott Wave Theory, sentiment, classical technical analysis, and trends. This approach has improved his forecasting capability, especially when they all point in the same direction.

His track record in forecasting Gold and Silver prices since has made him one of the top analysts in the precious metals sector, widely followed on Twitter and a regular contributor to the Sprott Money Blog.

*The author is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Sprott Money Ltd. The views and opinions expressed in this material are those of the author or guest speaker, are subject to change and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sprott Money Ltd. Sprott Money does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness and reliability of the information or any results from its use.

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